Brunei is diversifying away from oil and gas under Wawasan Brunei 2035, with the non-oil sector now 54% of GDP and 60% of exports. On 2026-10-26 the economy minister pledged to turn 27 investment projects worth about USD 6 billion into jobs and exports.
What a Korean company can do now
Government · leader
Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah (also Prime Minister)
Key national agenda
- Economic diversification under Wawasan Brunei 2035
- Downstream petrochemicals (Hengyi phase 2) and advanced manufacturing
- Agri-food, fisheries and food security (Brunei-Singapore Agri-Tech Food Zone)
- Telecoms, digital and creative industries; transport and logistics
- 30% renewable share of installed capacity by 2035
- Skills training matched to employer needs
Government programmes
2026/2027 development budgetBND 480 million
Year 3 of the 12th National Development Plan (RKN12), split across social sustainability, economic innovation and fiscal stability
Hengyi phase 2 expansionabout USD 5 billion
Petrochemical expansion targeted to start operations in 2029
Muara Port expansion
Container capacity from 220,000 to 500,000 TEU (2027 target)
BEDB-tracked investment projectsabout USD 6 billion
27 operating projects as of Aug 2026 employing over 2,000 locals; projects under way expected to add over 2,900 jobs
Brunei-Singapore Agri-Tech Food Zone
Joint feasibility study under way
Digital platform projects
National business services platform, school network phase 2, smart transport system (in the development budget)
Business opportunities
Job training and hiring-matching programs tied to investment projects
🔒 Why-now and buyers — analysis member ₩19,800/mo
IoT and AI environmental monitoring for smart farms and aquaculture
🔒 Why-now and buyers — analysis member ₩19,800/mo
Open this week
Process automation consulting for business licensing and registration
A national business services platform is included in the development budget.
Ministry of Finance and Economy; Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry
Regional export and overseas expansion consulting for local SMEs
🔒 Why-now and buyers — analysis member ₩19,800/mo
Free members get a human-reviewed summary by email for up to 3 countries a month (sent within 24h). BUILD members get them all.
Korean support schemes
- KOTRA Southeast Asia trade office network · KOTRA — Brunei market information and buyer sourcing can be requested through nearby Southeast Asian trade offices (whether a local office exists needs checking).
- Export voucher overseas services · Ministry of SMEs and Startups / KOTRA — Market research and local partner sourcing costs for Brunei can be covered by vouchers.
Official notices
Prime Minister's Office, Brunei Darussalam
- 2026-10-23 Participation in the 7th Sub-Regional Meeting on Counter Terrorism and Transnational Security
- 2026-10-22 20th ASEAN Ministerial Meeting on Transnational Crime (AMMTC) held
- 2026-10-19 His Majesty receives letters of credence from new envoys
- 2026-10-10 Brunei upgraded to Tier 2 in the US Trafficking in Persons Report
Disaster · conflict · epidemic
Stable 2026-11-07
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