17 May 2023 - The SDG Youth Dialogue Closing and Certificate Presentation Ceremony, was held this afternoon at the East Wing Meeting Room, Prime Minister’s Office. The three-day programme which began on the 15th May 2023, successfully concluded and was participated by 80 youth aged 15 to 25.

The inaugural SDG Youth Dialogue, organised by the Prime Minister's Office as the Special National Coordinating Committee on Sustainable Development Goals, with cooperation from the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports (MCYS) and Bank Islam Brunei Darussalam (BIBD). The program and activities were run by the Brunei Youth Council; Green Brunei; My Action for SDGs with the support of the United Nations Resident Coordinator Office (UNRCO) and the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UN ESCAP). The dialogue aimed at fostering the development and empowerment of future sustainability leaders and serves as a testament to Brunei Darussalam's commitment to harness the potential of its youth by nurturing a generation of visionary and innovative change agents who will shape a more sustainable future for all.

The programme includes various activities including leadership workshop and learning journeys to the Brunei Energy Hub and Kampong Ayer. Participants also had the opportunity to hear from invited speakers from the Ministry of Health, Secretariat of the Manpower Planning and Employment Council, Ministry of Education, BIBD, and Malaysian Youth SDG Summit. Participants were also provided support and insights from mentors from Larian Tanpa Batas, AYAN Brunei, and SMARTER Brunei. Throughout the programme, the participants demonstrated dedication and creativity as they engaged in constructive dialogues to offer innovative ideas and fresh perspectives on key issues - including environmental sustainability, social inclusion, economic growth, and quality education, among others. Advocating for youth empowerment, the participants highlighted the importance of intergenerational unit, and stressed the need for a holistic approach to achieve the SDGs.

The closing ceremony began with remarks from the Guest of Honour, Pengiran Hajah Siti Nirmala binti Pengiran Haji Mohammad, Permanent Secretary (Wawasan), Prime Minister’s Office. In her remarks, the programme supports the call of the Titah of His Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu’izzaddin Waddaulah ibni Al-Marhum Sultan Haji Omar ‘Ali Saifuddien Sa’adul Khairi Waddien, the Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam during the recent ASEAN Leader’s Interface with Representatives of ASEAN Youth on 10th May 2023 that emphasised youth participation as a major force for sustainable development, and a key agent for social change, economic growth, and technological innovation. On this note, she highlighted youths’ energy, passion, commitment and knowledge are the great asset and the future of tomorrow to drive the Wawasan Brunei 2035 and the implementation of the Agenda 2030 for Sustainable Development.

The ceremony was followed by the reading of the SDG Youth Statement which will become valuable input to the Second Voluntary National Review Report of Brunei Darussalam to be submitted at the High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development in July 2023. There was also an announcement on the BIBD Sustainability Youth Leaders Award to encourage continuation of the project ideas by Awang Junaidi bin Haji Masri, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Bank Islam Brunei Darussalam. Winners of the award will receive project grants to implement impactful projects. The ceremony concluded with a presentation of certificates and tokens of appreciation to the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports; Bank Islam Brunei Darussalam and the Brunei Youth Council by the Guest of Honour.