All Countries and All Sectors

The first successes of the recently established free trade agreement (FTA) between Brunei and India have become evident, with Indian experts identifying the Sultanate’s construction sector as a promising area for trade expansion. The sector offers Indian firms a chance to tap into one of the Bruneian economy’s major growth drivers, with a swathe of major construction projects either under way or on the drawing board.

The commitment of substantial funds to expand a preschool programme could be an important step in Indonesia’s ongoing efforts to improve its education system through greater financial support and better access.

Malaysia’s banking sector is riding high with leading lenders posting strong results for the first half of the year and foreign players attracted to an increasingly liberalised financial environment.

The 17th ASEAN summit in Hanoi in October saw Brunei Darussalam taking steps to improve economic ties with several of its partners in the 10-member organisation, as well as with non-member states. The summit, the second held under Vietnam’s chairmanship, came at a crucial time for ASEAN as it seeks to build more internal economic integration while also strengthening its geostrategic role.

Qatar is ratcheting up its campaign to host the 2022 World Cup as the race nears an end. With a decision due on December 2, boosts have come in the shape of a successful staging of a friendly match between South American footballing giants, praise for the emirate’s green credentials and vocal support from none other than Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson.

The recent Abu Dhabi Formula One (F1) Grand Prix helped the emirate’s policymakers achieve objectives both on a strategic and touristic level, but the government is eager to achieve even loftier tourism goals in 2011.