Royal Brunei Technical Services
Department of State Washington File: Text: APEC Finance Ministers Joint Ministerial Statement
The Deputy Sultan of Brunei Darussalam, His Royal Highness the Crown Prince, Prince Haji Al-Muhtadee Billah, granted an audience to the APEC Finance Ministers and Representatives of the International Financial Institutions (IFIs). His Royal Highness noted the improvements in the region's economic prospects, but stressed that APEC still had an important role in helping to build stronger foundations in the region. ... An increased private sector role is an important strategy to achieve structural adjustment, particularly in emerging economies. We note the development of a network of public officials, through the Privatization Forum and its cooperation with the OECD Privatization Network, to support and strengthen the capabilities of APEC economies to involve the private sector in government enterprises and services. We also welcome the ongoing development by the Forum of a Compendium of Best Practices for Privatization. ... [Read More]
Bilateral Activities
During 2003, a number of U.S. law enforcement and regulatory agencies provided training and technical assistance on money laundering countermeasures and financial investigations to their law enforcement, financial regulatory, and prosecutorial counterparts around the globe. These courses have been designed to give financial investigators, bank regulators, and prosecutors the necessary tools to recognize, investigate, and prosecute money laundering, financial crimes, and related criminal activity. Courses have been provided in the United States as well as in the jurisdictions where the programs are targeted. Department of StateThe Department of State’s Bureau for International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL) and the Department’s Office of the Coordinator for Counter-Terrorism ( ... [Read More]
Thailand (03/05)
Before the financial crisis, the Thai economy had years of manufacturing-led economic growth--averaging 9.4% for the decade up to 1996. Relatively abundant and inexpensive labor and natural resources, fiscal conservatism, open foreign investment policies, and encouragement of the private sector underlay the economic success in the years up to 1997. The economy is essentially a free-enterprise system. Certain services, such as power generation, transportation, and communications, are state-owned and operated, but the government is considering privatizing them in the wake of the financial crisis. ... [Read More]
Background Notes: Thailand
Background Notes: ThailandPA/PCSource: Office of Public Communication, Bureau of Public AffairsDate: Nov 28, 199111/28/91Category: Country DataRegion: Southeast AsiaCountry: ThailandSubject: Military Affairs, Cultural Exchange, Travel, History, International Organizations, Trade/Economics[TEXT]Official Name: Kingdom of ThailandGeographyArea: 513,115 sq. km. (198,114 sq. mi.): about the size of Texas.Cities: Capital--Bangkok (pop. 6 million). Other cities--Chiang Mai(159,279), Hat Yai (142,166), Nakon Ratchasima (193,121). Terrain:Four general regions--a densely populated central pl ... [Read More]
New Zealand (09/04)
As a charter member of the Colombo Plan, New Zealand has provided Asian countries with technical assistance and capital. It also contributes through the Asian Development Bank and through UN programs and is a member of the UN Economic and Social Council for Asia and the Pacific. ... Work force (March 2004, 1.98 million): Services and government--65%; manufacturing and construction--25%; agriculture, forestry, fisheries, and mining--10%. ... [Read More]
U.S. Government Assistance
In late December 2002, officers from the Royal Thai Army (RTA), Interagency Intelligence Fusion Center (IIFC) received information from a Confidential Source (CS) that a United Wa State Army (UWSA) caravan with approximately 2 million methamphetamine tablets was expected to arrive in Thailand from Burma between January 3-5, 2003. During this period, the RTA and the Royal Thai Border Patrol Police (BPP) were unsuccessful in efforts to interdict this caravan. On January 9-10, 2003, the RTA received additional information from the CS that the methamphetamine had been buried in a remote area near the Thailand-Burma border, after scouts for the caravan had observed the RTA and BPP presence along the caravan’s trail. On January 13, 2003, based on information from the CS, RTA units located and seized 1 million methamphetamine tablets buried in a remote, mountainous area. Agents from the Chiang Mai Resident Office and officers from the Royal Thai Police, Narcotic ... [Read More]
Brunei
In September, in addition to reviving the Legislative Council, the Sultan also announced changes to the Constitution that consolidated his executive powers while providing for limited elections to the Legislative Council. Amendments to royal succession to include the Sultan's sons from a second (now divorced) wife also were approved. ... In 2000, the Government declared its intention to be more transparent. While there has been some minor improvement, the Government continued to restrict and classify as confidential any information on the Government's and the royal family's financial dealings, particularly regarding expenditures, revenues, and incomes. ... [Read More]
Brunei
In 2002, a second daily English-language newspaper, the News Express, lost a suit for slander and defamation brought against it by a law firm. The company that owned the newspaper declared bankruptcy and closed. The newspaper had featured a letters page where citizens and residents expressed their views and complaints, often about government services and, increasingly, about government policy. The newspapers' willingness to publish these expressions of opinion represented a modest extension of press freedom. Prior to its closure, the Immigration Department raided the newspaper on several occasions; and its management and several workers were subsequently convicted of a number of immigration and labor offenses. ... [Read More]
US Department Of State Post Report
The Royal Regalia Museum houses, appropriately enough, a collection of royal regalia commemorating the Silver Jubilee (1992) of the Sultan’s ascension to the throne. Among the more impressive exhibits are the Royal Chariot, gold and silver ceremonial armory, and the jewel-encrusted crowns used during the coronation. ... Brunei’s open storm drainage system can sometimes produce unpleasant odors, but does not present health problems. Indiscriminate dumping of waste and garbage mars some town and residential areas. The Municipal Department provides garbage collection services for a reasonable fee in residential areas; the landlord for all Embassy residences arranges garbage collection services. Preventive MeasuresLast Updated: 12/2/2003 10:29 AM Clean fruits and vegetables well before eating. Cook meat thoroughly. Although local water is potable, Embassy personnel use bottled water and do not drink tap water as it is sometimes discolored. Insect control can be rudimentary. The Embassy maintains a pest control contract for all U.S. Government-leased quarters. Malaria suppressants are not necessary in ... [Read More]
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