8 June 2023 - The Data Statistics for Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Workshop was held on the 8th June 2023 at the East Wing Conference Room, Prime Minister’s Office, organised by the Prime Minister’s Office as the Special National Coordination Committee on the Sustainable Development Goals for Brunei Darussalam.

The objective of the workshop is to improve the understanding of SDGs indicators, overcoming data gaps and discuss priority actions required to ensure a more robust system for monitoring and evaluating national SDGs progress. Facilitated by the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP) and the Department of Statistics, Department of Economic Planning and Statistics, Ministry of Finance and Economy; the workshop was attended by members of Special National Coordination Committee on SDGs and the SDGs Technical Working Group.

In opening remarks, Yang Mulia Pengiran Hajah Siti Nirmala binti Pengiran Haji Mohammad, Permanent Secretary (Wawasan), Prime Minister’s Office as the Chairperson of the Special National Coordination Committee on SDGs expressed her appreciation for the continuous contribution and commitment from Ministries and Agencies and the technical support from United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP). The Permanent Secretary shared that the availability of SDGs data for Brunei Darussalam has improved since 2020, however there are still data gaps that need to be addressed to ensure effective national monitoring and evaluation of SDGs progress.

Dr. Arman Bidarbakht Nia from UNESCAP commended the inclusive approach in data sharing for monitoring progress in SDGs and expressed his confidence that Brunei Darussalam can effectively transform potential opportunities into concrete actions, including the strengthening of the National statistical system in the years ahead.

The workshop concluded with a shared understanding of the potential way forward, exploring a cohesive whole-of-government process of data gathering and the alignment needed between key stakeholders to meet National statistical needs.