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Borneo Bulletin Yearbook 2019
STRATEGIC LOCATION
Investors can leverage on Brunei’s strategic
location to reach a wider market base within
ASEAN and beyond. Approximately 600 million
people live in the region, creating a market
that is larger than the whole of the European
Union. The region is a pathway for creating an
economic community for better movement of
trade and people across the region.
Brunei is located within two to three hours
away from other major ASEAN cities such as
Singapore, Kuala Lumpur and Jakarta via direct
flights.
Royal Brunei Airlines (RB), Brunei’s national
flag carrier airlines, introduced a new fleet of
aircraft in efforts to expand its destinations. In
2018, the airlines began offering direct flights
to London and introduced plans to enhance its
Chinese network by introducing direct flights
to more cities in China. RB also increased flight
frequencies to its existing markets such as
Kuala Lumpur and Bangkok. The airlines started
direct flights to Tokyo (Narita airport) in March
this year.
Airport and Seaport
There is now more focus on developing the
infrastructure and facilities at the Brunei
International Airport (BIA) in anticipation of
the growing number of tourists coming into the
country.
The Muara Port, Brunei’s only deep-water
port, serves as a container and conventional
terminal. Situated along South China Sea’s
shipping routes, the port has abundant potential
to become a significant trading hub in the East
Asian region.
The government has also invested in developing
a port via a joint venture between Darussalam
Assets and Beibu Gulf (HK) Ltd to form the
Muara Port Company. The company functions
to run the Muara Container Terminal in its daily
businesses and aims to grow the port into an
efficient trading hub for the country.