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Having already drastically reduced mortality rates and increased life expectancy by tackling the problem of communicable diseases and instituting nationwide universal health services, the Sultanate is now shifting its efforts towards combating non-communicable diseases such as diabetes, heart disease and cancer. Although Brunei Darussalam’s substantial hydrocarbons exports and relatively small population have so far enabled the government to provide high-quality care to all Bruneians, the existing system is unlikely to be sustainable in the long term due to rapid increases in health care costs and the finite nature of the country’s resources. In the long term the expansion of the private sector could help to shape the future evolution of the health sector as a whole. This chapter contains an interview with Dr Kenneth Y Y Kok, Medical Director, Brunei Cancer Centre.

The Ministry of Education’s plan for the 2012-17 period includes three focus areas: teaching and learning excellence; professionalism and accountability; and efficiency and innovation, all bolstered by 14 strategic objectives and 18 key performance indicators. Complementing the transformation of its basic education system is an equally ambitious overhaul of tertiary institutions designed to combat unemployment across a broad range of sectors and skill sets. The sector benefits from substantial funding. In the 2014/15 budget, for example, the Ministry of Education received the second-largest allocation of any state entity at $604.5m or 13% of the total. This chapter contains an interview with Pehin Dato Abu Bakar Apong, Minister of Education.

Home to unspoiled jungle habitats, unique and rich cultural heritage, and miles of pristine sand beaches, all of which is supported by modern and efficient infrastructure, Brunei Darussalam has all the makings of an attractive holiday destination. Already a leading segment within the tourism sector as a whole, the cruise ship industry provides the Sultanate with perhaps its greatest single avenue to increase visitor footfall and spending in the country. Cruise ship tourists from 24 ports of call visited the Sultanate in 2013, up 40% over 2012. Boosting this segment further remains a priority. If further developed, other niche categories, such as ecotourism, bird watching, scuba diving and trekking journeys could also prove to be strong draws, particularly if developed in conjunction with larger Borneo travel packages including Malaysian and Indonesian components. This chapter contains an interview with Mariani Haji Sabtu, Acting Director, Tourism Development Department.

The 2014/15 budget allocated $92.9m, out of a total of $902.4m, for the industry and trade sector under the 10th National Development Plan. Much of the current manufacturing sector is built around downstream energy applications, such as petrochemicals, although the country continues to encourage growth in other light industry and knowledge-based segments, including ICT and niche halal products. The Sultanate is focusing development on some of its key strengths, such as its young and well-educated workforce, developed infrastructure and abundance of energy. Agriculture, forestry and fisheries contributed just 0.73% to GDP in 2013 with $114.8m, requiring the import of around $470m worth of food each year. Recent strategic shifts have placed a new premium on reaching self-sufficiency in food production, including a new $3.14m project entailing the construction of an agricultural industrial park. Development of agro-industry and processing capacity with a bent towards exports is expected to provide long-term value for the sector, provided it can continue to attract investment. This chapter contains interviews with Pehin Dato Yahya Bakar, Minister of Industry and Primary Resources; Vijaya Rajendram, CEO, Neptune Bio-Innovations; and Feby Latip, Deputy CEO, Ghanim International Food Corporation.

The drive for economic diversification has led to significant expenditure on infrastructure in areas such as industrial parks, irrigation works, telecoms and the national transport network. Public spending dominates the construction sector, and around 80-90% of works are carried out by the state. Increased government expenditure will ensure that public projects continue to drive growth, although the announcement of a number of large-scale private industrial projects in 2013 and 2014 should provide more opportunities for construction firms as well. Given the demand for housing, there could be further growth in the private residential market in the future, provided regulations governing ownership are clarified. According to official figures, the real estate sector accounted for 2.38% of GDP in 2013, worth $337m. Residential property values grew by around 10% in 2013, driven largely by the ongoing land shortage, increases in labour and construction material costs, and overall inflation. This chapter contains an interview with Bobby Chua, Vice-Chairman, Swee.

Situated along crucial sea shipping routes on the southern edge of the South China Sea, Brunei Darussalam is well placed to take advantage of growing trade within the region. Under the 10th National Development Plan, running from 2012 to 2017, the government has allocated 19.7% of the budget to communications and transportation projects. Major investments in infrastructure are designed to have an impact beyond simply serving domestic demand, and are geared towards encouraging more international shipping lines and logistics operations to set up shop locally. Far exceeding the Sultanate’s current demand for passenger and cargo traffic, improvements across a number of modes will serve to ensure ample room for growth in the years to come. This chapter contains interviews with Pehin Dato Suyoi Osman, Minister of Development; and Dermot Mannion, Deputy Chairman, Royal Brunei Airlines.