His Royal Highness Prince Haji Al-Muhtadee Billah, the Crown Prince and Senior Minister at the Prime Minister's Office, as the Chairman of the National Committee of the 10th National Development Plan, yesterday visited four projects under the National Development Plan.

According to a press release from the Prime Minister's Office, His Royal Highness first visited the Site Office of Modernisation of the Brunei International Airport in Berakas where His Royal Highness was greeted by Pehin Orang Kaya Laila Setia Dato Seri Setia Awang Haji Abdul Rahman bin Haji Ibrahim, Minister of Finance (II) at the Prime Minister's Office who is also the Deputy Chairman of the National Committee of the 10th National Development Plan; Pehin Orang Kaya Indera Pahlawan Dato Seri Setia Awang Haji Suyoi bin Haji Osman, Minister of Development; Pehin Orang Kaya Hamzah Pahlawan Dato Seri Setia Awang Haji Abdullah bin Begawan Mudim Dato Paduka Haji Bakar, Minister of Communications; members of the National Committee of the 10th National Development Plan and senior government officers.

His Royal Highness then attended a briefing on the Project of Upgrading the Brunei International Airport presented by Dr Haji Abdul Manaf bin Haji Metussin, Deputy Chief Executive Officer of the Brunei Economic Development Board. Among others, the project hopes to uplift the capacity and image of the Brunei International Airport which has been in operation since 1974, as well as to accommodate the increasing number of passengers, giving them better facilities as well as to modernise the airport. The project will be completed by the end of 2014.

This was followed by a briefing presented by Dato Paduka Awang Haji Suhaimi bin Haji Gafar, Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Development, on several National Development Projects which include the Linkroad Project from the Old Airport to Menglait; and the Renovation of Royal Brunei Police Force Officers Mess and Banquet Hall; as well as the Royal Brunei Police Force New Headquarters Building in Gadong.

After the briefing, His Royal Highness visited the Linkroad Project from the Old Airport to Menglait. The link road includes a bridge which strategically links the Government Offices Complex in the Old Airport, Berakas, providing an alternative short-cut to the Menglait Road, which in turn is connected to the Gadong area. The project will be completed by the end of the year. Before leaving for the next project site, His Royal Highness signed a commemorative parchment at the site.

His Royal Highness then visited the Project Sites for the Renovation of the Royal Brunei Police Force Officers Mess at Jalan Gadong and the Banquet Hall in Kampong Mata-Mata. Among the objectives of the projects are to increase the capacity of the infrastructure of the Royal Brunei Police Force. His Royal Highness also signed a commemorative parchment at the site.

His Royal Highness then took a closer look at the Royal Brunei Police Force New Headquarters Building as the last destination of the working visit. It includes modern infrastructure such as meeting rooms, auditorium and other facilities.

The new building will enhance the image of the Royal Brunei Police Force as an effective and dynamic organisation. Also at this site, His Royal Highness signed a commemorative parchment. Its construction takes about 24 months and the building is expected to be operational by early 2013.

The working visit allowed His Royal Highness to have a closer look at the implementation and planning of the projects under the National Development Plan, the press release stated.

The visit of His Royal Highness also reflected continuous support towards His Majesty the Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam's efforts in ensuring the government agencies are always sensitive and responsive to the current needs and developments aimed at maintaining prosperity and improving the well-being of the people in the country as mentioned in His Royal Highness's sabda during the 19th Civil Service Day Celebration held on October 17, 2012.

The National Development Plan projects also promote and support the major objectives of Wawasan Brunei 2035 which covers broad areas including the economy, education, social prosperity and other areas, the press release stated. - Borneo Bulletin (21 October 2012)