Islamic finance has had a growing presence in Brunei Darussalam since the early 1990s, with active support from Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah. Today the Islamic banking and takaful (Islamic insurance) segments are transitioning into the dominant forms of banking and insurance in the country, and the Sultanate’s large foreign investments are increasingly...
Banking sector growth has accelerated as authorities have eased up somewhat on restrictive regulations, and banks are looking forward to an improved climate as overall economic growth revives. Rapid growth in lending to domestic business, albeit from a low base, gives some cause for hope that the sector is beginning to work through the limitations of an economy dominated...
The recent acceleration of bank lending to domestic businesses, albeit from a low base, shows the increasing seriousness of the government’s drive to speed growth outside of the dominant oil and gas sector. Driven by government-linked banks, the upturn has helped buoy domestic demand despite the decline in energy exports. The banks most responsible for driving the growth...
Life insurance has struggled to take root in Brunei Darussalam. However, with only three life insurers, American International Assurance (AIA), Great Eastern Life Insurance and Tokio Marine Life Singapore, as well as sharia-compliant coverage by Takaful Brunei Keluarga covering less than 20% of the population, there should be significant room for...
The sukuk, a form of Islamic bond, has become one of the most popular and recognisable Islamic financial instruments globally. In Brunei Darussalam, sukuk issuance has been growing steadily, but it remains in its infancy and investors have few options in the fixedincome market. In the medium term, sukuk is likely to be a key component in...
The banking sector is currently facing a period of readjustment, absorbing the implications of a more mature regulatory environment and looking at ways to support the government’s development plans. In a moderately sized market with limitations on the opportunities to boost loan growth in place, the challenges for commercial banks remain substantial...
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