Transport
From The Report: Brunei Darussalam 2013
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Despite having sufficient capacity at its Muara Port, Brunei Darussalam has carried out several upgrades and built three inland container depots that offer improved Customs processing and better refrigeration. While Brunei Darussalam’s infrastructure is modern, it is comparatively basic. The country’s ambition to serve as a centre for regional trade, however, is now motivating a number of investments and long-term strategic planning. Carefully planned investments can serve to make Brunei Darussalam’s transport sector, if not the catalyst of economic transformation, at least an enabling factor.

This chapter contains interviews with Dato Abdullah Bakar, Minister of Communications; Pengiran Zain, Acting Director of Ports; and Dermot Mannion

Articles from this Chapter

Overview

Change is in the air: Regional and local regulatory reforms are set to open up the sector
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With a small population and limited non-hydrocarbons exports, Brunei Darussalam’s transport system has long been considered adequate to handle current volumes of trade and traffic. While the country’s infrastructure is modern, it is comparatively basic: the single-runway Brunei International Airport (BIA) and the small port at Muara handle the vast majority of cargo and passengers entering the country, which until recently has been well within their capacities. UPGRADES NEEDED: The country’s…

Interview

OBG talks to Pehin Dato Abdullah Bakar, Minister of Communications
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Interview: Pehin Dato Abdullah Bakar What progress has been made in achieving the Ministry of Communication’s 2008-17 strategic goals? PEHIN DATO ABDULLAH BAKAR: The strategic plan of the ministry was set to create a sophisticated society with excellent communication and transportation networks to position Brunei Darussalam as a competitive nation for whatever future role it wants to play. If we look at the modern socio-economic trends today, we know we have to become competitive to attract foreign…

Analysis

Over land: A new master plan will overhaul the public transport system
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With an area of just over 5000 sq km – and most of that occupied by remote jungle – Brunei’s land transportation system is quite compact. The country has just 3127 km of road, and only 2575 km of that is paved, according to statistics from the Ministry of Development. However, car-based development has completely dominated in Brunei up to this point. MASTER PLAN: While the use of public transport such as buses and taxis is relatively low, car ownership is approaching one per two people.…

Interview

OBG talks to Pengiran Zain, Acting Director of Ports
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Interview: Pengiran Zain How is Brunei Darussalam’s port being positioned in the region so that it can capture an increasing volume of ASEAN and sub-regional trade? PENGIRAN ZAIN: As widely understood by many, the level of throughput and proportion of cargo coming in and out of a port is directly linked to the overall shipping cost and driven by economies of scale, quality of service and port connectivity. Brunei Darussalam is experiencing empty outbound containers. One way to tackle this is…