BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN (Borneo Bulletin/ANN): Senior government and industry leaders from Australia and Brunei Darussalam gathered recently for the Australia–Brunei Business Forum and Networking Event, underscoring both nations’ shared commitment to food security and economic growth.
Co-hosted by the Australian Trade and Investment Commission (Austrade) and the Ministry of Finance and Economy, the forum formed part of the 2025 Australian Strategic Agribusiness Partnership Mission to Brunei. The event aimed to deepen commercial ties and explore new opportunities across the agrifood sector.
Guest of Honour Minister at the Prime Minister’s Office and Minister of Finance and Economy II, Datuk Seri Setia Dr Awang Mohd Amin Liew Abdullah, opened the forum. In his remarks, he emphasised the importance of strong, reliable partnerships amid global uncertainties.
“To navigate these uncertain times, we increasingly need to rely on trusted partners to secure future growth,” he said. He added that Australia’s South-East Asia Economic Strategy to 2040 reflects a shared commitment to strengthening regional cooperation in trade, investment, innovation, and connectivity.
Australia’s strategy aims to support businesses seeking opportunities aligned with Brunei’s Wawasan 2035 vision. Australian high-quality food exports continue to play an important role in supporting Brunei’s food manufacturing industry and broader food-security goals.
General Manager of Austrade’s Trade Diversification Taskforce Jay Meek reaffirmed Australia’s long-standing role as a key supplier of agrifood products to Brunei. “We are keen to see this trade continue and grow,” he said.
Acting Chief Executive Officer of the Brunei Darussalam Development Board (BEDB), Daniel Leong, highlighted Brunei’s potential as a testbed for innovative agrifood solutions.
“Brunei’s scale allows us to bring industry players together efficiently, creating an agile environment for innovation and value-chain partnerships,” he said. “For companies looking to pilot solutions and expand regionally, Brunei remains a credible and strategic choice.”
The forum wrapped up a week of engagements between Australian and Bruneian stakeholders, marking another step forward in strengthening agrifood collaboration and unlocking new opportunities across the value chain. -- Borneo Bulletin/ANN
