The official launch ceremony of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Website was held this afternoon, 10th June 2023, at the Banquet Hall, Prime Minister’s Office. The SDGs Website aims to promote awareness of national efforts and the progress in sustainable development, through knowledge sharing and data visualisation generated by the National SDG Tracker. The website also provides a platform for sharing global development and to communicate interests for cooperation, fostering more SDGs actions.

The Guest of Honour, Yang Berhormat Pehin Datu Lailaraja Mejar Jeneral (R) Dato Paduka Seri Haji Awang Halbi bin Haji Mohd Yussof, Minister at the Prime Minister’s Office and Minister of Defence II, in his keynote address, highlighted the need to continue the momentum of progress, following the preparation of the Second Voluntary National Review of Brunei Darussalam which will be presented at the United Nations High-Level Political Forum (HLPF) on Sustainable Development in July 2023. Brunei Darussalam has reported progress in SDGs through activities such as stakeholder engagement, including youth and improvements in data availability to support evidence-based actions. Yang Berhormat Pehin hoped that sharing information through the SDGs website and progress through the SDG Tracker can promote better awareness, encourage more SDGs actions and foster collaboration in Brunei Darussalam and with the international community.

Dr. Arman Bidarbakht Nia from the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP) delivered remarks which commended Brunei Darussalam’s efforts and commitment to improve transparency and accountability through a data-driven assessment of SDGs progress. He also emphasised UNESCAP’s readiness to support Brunei Darussalam’s efforts to further strengthen the national statistical system to facilitate the integration of the SDGs indicators into national planning.

Also in attendance were Deputy Minister and Permanent Secretaries at the Prime Minister’s Office; Members of Special National Coordination Committee for SDGs and the SDG Technical Working Group as well as representatives from non-government organisations, private sector, and academic institutions.