Bandar Seri Begawan – The government is to allocate an additional $20 million for rice cultivation in an effort to enhance self-sufficiency and fortify national food security.

Minister of Finance II, YB Pehin Orang Kaya Laila Setia Dato Seri Setia Awg Hj Abd Rahman bin Hj Ibrahim said during the sixth Legislative Council Meeting yesterday and also highlighted allocations for the development and strengthening ofthe nation’s private sector.

Speaking to members of the Legislative Council, he said $100,000 has been allocated for the Budding Entrepreneurship Project under the Ministry of Industry and Primary Resources. An allocation of $200,000 has been made for the restoration work for the jetty at the Aquaculture Development Centre to enable a continuous supply of sea water to research works.

A similar allocation has also been made to finance economic activities organised by consultative councils in villages under the Ministry of Home Affairs. The aim is also to allow villages to find potential products unique to respective areas. The allocation takes into account the successes achieved by several Mukim and Village Consultative Councils in the country.

Meanwhile, allocations for education and human capacity related sectors received a boost. YB Pehin said the overall allocation for financial year 2010/2011 for the Ministry of Education and Ministry of Religious Affairs has been expanded compared to the last financial year 2009/2010.

The additional allocation is also made to allow the purchase of school equipment and restoration projects, renovation and the upgrading of school amenities as well as the GenNext Programme introduced by Universiti Brunei Darussalam. For education programmes under the -national development plan, a ‘total of $87.9 million has been set aside including for the implementation of the new SPN21 education system and, others.

The allocation for in-service training has also been increased to $20 million compared to $18 million last year. An allocation of $35 million has also been made under the Human Capacity Development Fund.

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