Banking
From The Report: Brunei Darussalam 2016
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The Sultanate’s small but solid banking sector has been going through some significant changes in recent times. Consolidation has led to fewer lenders, a process that is likely to continue, while at the same time those banks that do remain are some of the best resourced in the region. Indeed, Brunei Darussalam’s banks have high levels of liquidity, good capital adequacy ratios and well-managed levels of non-performing loans. The sector includes both Islamic and conventional banks, with the former being dominant – a feature that makes the Sultanate unique in Asian banking. This chapter contains interviews with Yusof bin Haji Abdul Rahman, Managing Director, Autoriti Monetari Brunei Darussalam (AMBD); Pierre Imhof, CEO, Baiduri Bank; and Ajay Kanwal, Regional CEO, ASEAN and South Asia, Standard Chartered.

Articles from this Chapter

Overview

Making headway: Ongoing changes are improving standards in the sector
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The Sultanate’s small but solid banking sector has been going through some significant changes in recent times. Consolidation has led to fewer lenders, a process that is likely to continue, while at the same time those banks that do remain are some of the best resourced in the region. Indeed, Brunei Darussalam’s banks have high levels of liquidity, good capital adequacy ratios (CAR) and well-managed levels of non-performing loans (NPLs). The sector includes both Islamic and conventional banks,…

Interview

Stocking up: OBG talks to Yusof bin Haji Abdul Rahman, Managing Director, Autoriti Monetari Brunei Darussalam (AMBD)
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Interview:Yusof bin Haji Abdul Rahman How can Brunei Darussalam’s economy best take advantage of the upcoming establishment of a local stock exchange? YUSOF BIN HAJI ABDUL RAHMAN: The establishment of a stock exchange will enhance financial industry activity in Brunei Darussalam and increase the contribution of financial services to GDP, as per the Wawasan Brunei 2035 (Brunei Vision 2035). It will give local companies the opportunity to expand through capital formation and provide individuals…

Interview

Local heroes: OBG talks to Pierre Imhof, CEO, Baiduri Bank
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Interview:Pierre Imhof Does the local banking sector have opportunities to finance large-scale projects? PIERRE IMHOF: Large infrastructure projects, especially oil- and gas-related projects like building a refinery, require a tremendous amount of financing, much more than any individual bank can provide. That is true all around the world, not only in Brunei Darussalam. Special-purpose vehicles, like consortia of banks, must be created to finance those types of projects, but local banks certainly…

Analysis

Balancing act: New policies should shore up the sector against challenges
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With oil and gas prices currently experiencing a sustained low, the Sultanate’s economy has been facing some challenging times. Declines in GDP and a shrinking of government revenues and expenditures have also affected the banking sector, as consumers and businesses act more cautiously and the need for project financing dwindles. Yet the Sultanate’s banking sector is also seen by many as the key to driving future economic growth. Under the country’s long-term development plan, Wawasan 2035,…

Interview

Driving growth: OBG talks to Ajay Kanwal, Regional CEO, ASEAN and South Asia, Standard Chartered
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Interview:Ajay Kanwal What do you see as the distinguishing characteristics of the banking landscape in South Asia? AJAY KANWAL: Sentiment in South Asia continues to be very positive as GDP growth, credit expansion, consumer confidence and public infrastructure spending increases across the region. In its role as a financial intermediary, banks have played a pivotal role in enabling this growth. Several themes are at play, the most prominent being financial inclusion that extends to the mass…

Interview

Driving growth: OBG talks to Ajay Kanwal, Regional CEO, ASEAN and South Asia, Standard Chartered
OBG
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Interview:Ajay Kanwal What do you see as the distinguishing characteristics of the banking landscape in South Asia? AJAY KANWAL: Sentiment in South Asia continues to be very positive as GDP growth, credit expansion, consumer confidence and public infrastructure spending increases across the region. In its role as a financial intermediary, banks have played a pivotal role in enabling this growth. Several themes are at play, the most prominent being financial inclusion that extends to the mass…