Comprehensive and coordinated policy responses in areas such as education, health care and housing assistance will help the most vulnerable members of society and those in genuine need overcome the impacts of the pandemic. The Minister at the Prime Minister’s Office and Second Minister of Finance and Economy during the 38th Ministerial Session of the Standing Committee for Economic and Commercial Cooperation of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, COM-CEC, also acknowledged that social assistance and other poverty alleviation efforts are a vital part of the response to the pandemic to help communities buffer against the worst of socioeconomic consequences and in ensuring that no one is left behind. The two day meeting held on the 28th and 29th of November 2022 took place in Istanbul, Republic of Turkiye.
Yang Berhormat Dato Seri Setia Doctor Awang Haji Mohd Amin Liew bin Abdullah, also shared Brunei Darussalam’s efforts to strengthen its social protection system such as through the National Plan of Action on Poverty Eradication and the digitalisation of the National Welfare System. Themed “Effective Social Assistance Provision and Socioeconomic Empowerment in the light of COVID-19 Pandemic”, the meeting was officiated by His Excellency Recep Tayyip Erdogan, President of the Republic of Turkiye. The meeting discussed ways to alleviate poverty in OIC Member Countries and also considered challenges to delivering social assistance post-pandemic as well as possible policy options to address such challenges. Discussions also focused on the progress of the implementation of the COMCEC Strategy and the OIC-2025 Programme of Action. The Ministerial Meeting was preceded by a Senior Officials Meeting, attended by Doctor Hajah May Fa’ezah binti Haji Ahmad Ariffin, Permanent Secretary for Economy, Trade and Industry at the Ministry of Finance and Economy.
Source: Radio Television Brunei