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Borneo Bulletin Yearbook 2019
FOREWORD
In creating a more conducive business environment and increasing
attractiveness for Foreign Direct Investments (FDIs), Brunei Darussalam
continues to improve in the World Bank’s Ease of Doing Business ranking
over the years. In particular, the implementation of Brunei Darussalam
National Single Window (BDNSW) system is one of the many initiatives
made by the Government to provide a digital gateway and platform to ensure
a pro-investor and pro-business environment.
Over the last few years we have attracted
interest from various international firms to invest
in Brunei Darussalam, notably from Canada,
China, Japan, Malaysia, Taiwan and Turkey. We
believe there are opportunities to be explored
and realised by local and foreign companies
within the Food Processing, Manufacturing and
Tourism industries among many others. His
Majesty’s Government will continue to actively
promote Brunei Darussalam as an investment
destination leveraging on our strategic location
within ASEAN and trade arrangements with
other countries by being a member of ASEAN,
APEC, BIMP-EAGA and the WTO.
Government Linked Companies (GLCs) also play
a very important role in Brunei Darussalam’s
business landscape as they provide employment
opportunities as well as potential partnerships
for local Small Medium Enterprises (SMEs)
and foreign investors. For example, local
SMEs can capitalise on Ghanim International
Corporation Sdn Bhd’s BruneiHalalFood brand
and established distribution channels to bring
their locally made products to a number of
international markets, including China and
Singapore. This will spearhead and create
further opportunities within the entire supply
chain including logistics, cold chain storage,
packaging and processing as well as food
safety and security.
Another successful collaboration is between
Darussalam Assets Sdn Bhd and Guangxi
Beibu Gulf for the establishment of Muara Port
Company Sdn Bhd (MPC), the main operator
of the Muara Container Terminal (MCT). By
leveraging on Guangxi Beibu Gulf’s expertise
and network, MPC is able to improve the
efficiency and cost competitiveness of MCT and
thereby lowering the cost of doing business.
Furthermore, this collaboration has facilitated
the growth in other adjacent industries, such
as logistics and manufacturing, creating a
more sustainable ecosystem that benefits both
local and foreign companies.
As part of the Government’s commitment to
improve the level and quality of economic
and social infrastructure in the country, the
Government is actively pursuing Public Private
Partnership (PPP) as an innovative infrastructure
delivery option that will enable the Government
to harness the complementary resources and
expertise from both the public and private
sectors. By adopting a whole of nation approach
and with concerted effort, the Government of
Brunei Darussalam remains committed and
focussed towards helping companies establish
and grow their business in the country.
Overall, I believe these improvements have laid
down the foundation for many other potential
future
long-term
strategic
partnerships.
Furthermore, it is hoped that the local business
community will be able to capitalise on this
and play an important and bigger role in Brunei
Darussalam’s economic development agenda, as
we head towards achieving the main objectives
of our national vision, Brunei Vision 2035.
Yang Berhormat Dato Seri Setia Dr Awang Haji Mohd Amin Liew bin Abdullah
Minister at the Prime Minister’s Office and Minister of Finance and Economy II