Brunei Darussalam

With the recent descent of oil and gas prices on international markets, the role and future direction of the Sultanate’s industrial sector has never been of greater importance to Brunei Darussalam’s economy. Indeed, diversification away from hydrocarbons production is greatly contingent on industry taking a larger share of the country’s GDP. This necessary shift towards more knowledge-based,...

A powerhouse regional oil and gas producer, Brunei Darussalam has benefited significantly from a long history of hydrocarbons production in partnership with international oil companies. The energy sector continues to dominate the economy today, accounting for the majority of government revenues, GDP and exports. However, the sector is facing a host of concurrent challenges – production at...

One of the largest exporters of oil and gas in South-east Asia, Brunei Darussalam has long benefitted from its strong trade relationships with Japan, China and its ASEAN neighbours, building a robust trade surplus in the years to 2014 on the back of rising exports and elevated petroleum prices. The oil market’s mid-2014 turnaround has had a dramatic impact on the Sultanate’s trade balance,...

A high-income country with vast petroleum wealth, robust fiscal reserves and a small, highly- educated population, Brunei Darussalam is unique among the ASEAN community. Oil and gas resources have generated high per-capita income, although the economy has contracted in recent years as a result of falling oil and gas prices, which account for more than 90% of export revenues. Although...

While both 2015 and 2016 have held numerous important changes for Brunei Darussalam, the nation has long maintained its unique balance of tradition and modernity. Classified as a unitary Islamic monarchy, the Sultanate has maintained a stable form of government since its independence in 1984. Historically, the oil and gas industry has dominated the Bruneian economy and has allowed the...