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Analysis

An evolving plan to meet demand for public housing
OBG
plus

The traditional settlement patterns of Brunei Darussalam looked markedly different 60 years ago, when the vast majority of its citizens resided in water villages built on stilts along the banks of the Brunei River, than they do today in modern Bandar Seri Begawan. When cholera and smallpox epidemics swept through the crowded settlement of Kampong Ayer in 1953, the government was prompted to initiate…

Analysis

New initiatives promote environmentally friendly development
OBG
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The commitments Brunei Darussalam has made to safeguard its environment are well documented. These include high-profile efforts like participation in the “Heart of Borneo” campaign to preserve a 22m-ha swath of jungle, as well as a recent pledge to allow no more than 1% of the country’s landmass to be converted to agricultural use. Thanks to the wealth afforded by the commercialisation of its…

Analysis

The government is committed to reducing reliance on food imports
OBG
plus

When a widespread shortage of basic foodstuffs occurred worldwide in early 2007 and 2008, global commodity prices for wheat, rice, corn and soybean roughly tripled within a matter of months. The results of these price spikes rippled around the world and led to social unrest, ranging from the hijacking of dozens of truckloads of UN humanitarian grain shipments in Africa to armed guards protecting rice…

Analysis

Global food safety concerns offer potential for both Muslim and non-Muslim markets
OBG
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Taking advantage of Brunei Darussalam’s core competencies, including its international reputation and an observant Islamic culture with strict adherence to halal standards, the country is looking to serve the growing global demand for sharia-compliant products by expanding its own stable of halal offerings. Derived from the Arabic word meaning permissible, halal is a term widely used to designate…

Analysis

Cruise ship arrivals are rising rapidly
OBG
plus

The economy of Brunei Darussalam has relied heavily upon the sea, from its traditional roots as seafaring traders to offshore oil and gas fields, which now account for the lion’s share of the country’s GDP. These same waters could now also provide a substantial boost for the Sultanate’s fledgling tourism sector by delivering tens or even hundreds of thousands of tourists to Brunei Darussalam’s…

Analysis

Technical and vocational education is set to get a major reboot
OBG
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Complementing the broader restructuring of the primary education system to redirect its focus towards meeting the needs of a modern, knowledge-based economy is a separate reboot of the technical and vocational education subsector (TVE). Given its importance in reducing unemployment and placing more Bruneians in key growth industries, the overhaul of the TVE subsector is a key component of both the…

Analysis

Non-communicable diseases are on the rise
OBG
plus

Although Brunei Darussalam's ongoing commitment to providing its citizens with high-quality universal health care has produced a robust public health care network, non-communicable diseases still pose a significant threat to the population. Cancer is far and away the country's primary cause of mortality, with 295 deaths recorded in 2013, according to the Department of Economic Planning and Development.…

Overview

Tips for first-time travellers to the Sultanate
OBG
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Brunei Darussalam is a welcoming and tolerant country, and Bruneians are well accustomed to interacting with foreigners in both business and informal settings. However, certain rules of cultural etiquette should be observed. The Sultanate is an Islamic state, so public displays of affection between sexes should be avoided and the consumption and sale of alcohol is strictly forbidden. Showing the soles…

Overview

With a long history as a centre of trade, the country is well positioned to take advantage of opportunities
OBG
plus

With a long and distinguished history, Brunei Darussalam represents stability and continuity in a region subject to rapid change. At the same time, under His Majesty Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah’s guidance, the country has also become an important player in regional politics, a major international energy provider and a significant force in the world of global finance, via its sovereign wealth fund. Brunei…

Overview

Renewed efforts in hydrocarbons and petrochemicals are set to boost the growth rate
OBG
plus

With one of the world’s largest endowments of hydrocarbons relative to the size of its population, Brunei Darussalam has naturally built its economy around the production and export of oil and gas. Energy exports have funded a high general standard of living and substantial outward foreign investment. However, like many of the world’s traditional oil and gas producers, the Sultanate now faces the…