BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN: His Majesty Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah, Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Negara Brunei Darussalam, reaffirmed the government’s commitment to strengthening economic resilience and safeguarding the well-being of the people through continuous policy upgrading and renewal.
Expressing gratitude to Allah the Almighty, the Ruler said that by His grace, the nation has been permitted to enter the year 2026.
“As we stand on the threshold of the New Year 2026, I wish to invite all parties to reflect together on our achievements and the direction we have taken,” the Sultan said in a titah in conjunction with the New Year 2026 celebration.
The Ruler noted that the past year continued to test the nation with economic challenges, arising from global turmoil including the increasingly pressing climate change crisis. Nevertheless, the people of Brunei Darussalam have remained calm and vigilant.
“This is what we aspire to be: a resilient nation that is always courageous in facing challenges,” the monarch said, adding that this was encouraged by the growing role of youth groups such as the Brunei Youth Council and Brunei Young Entrepreneurs in driving positive change.
From another perspective, His Majesty highlighted the encouraging progress among farmers and livestock breeders who are increasing production output – developments aligned with the government’s aspiration to achieve food security self-sufficiency.
Moving into the New Year, Sultan Hassanal said the government will remain focused on prioritising economic resilience and the well-being of the people through policy upgrading and renewal.
Despite the nation’s economy recording a decline of 1.1 per cent in the first six months of 2025 compared with the same period in 2024, the monarch said Brunei Darussalam’s macroeconomic fundamentals remain resilient.
This is supported by a trade balance surplus of BND4.0 billion as of September 2025, alongside a decline in inflation to 0.3 per cent as of October 2025.
These indicators, the Sultan added, clearly demonstrate the need to further intensify efforts across key sectors by enhancing competitiveness.
“Insya Allah, we will continue to explore investment opportunities in line with the economic blueprint through our key sectors. Our objective is clear: to generate high-quality employment opportunities and ensure that the nation remains relevant and competitive at both regional and global levels,” the Ruler said.
Towards this end, the government will continue to provide a conducive business environment, strengthen networks with international strategic partners, empower the halal brand, and boost exports of local industrial products that are now on par with international standards.
In advancing the nation’s digital transformation in line with Brunei Vision 2035, the monarch consented to the implementation of the national digital identity project, Brunei-ID, under the Digital Economy Master Plan 2025. The initiative will commence on Jan 3.
Brunei-ID is expected to facilitate identity verification for access to various government online services, strengthen digital governance, and serve as a catalyst for more efficient, secure and integrated public service delivery.
In tandem with efforts to enhance service efficiency, Sultan Hassanal also consented to the corporatisation of the Postal Services Department into PosBru Sendirian Berhad, effective on Jan 1, 2026. The move is aimed at improving service quality and customer-centric delivery for the public.
Through this corporatisation initiative, the Ruler hopes the government will further intensify transformation efforts across other sectors that require more responsive government services and customer-centric, in order to meet the needs of the people and productivity within the business sector in this country.
“Let us be grateful for our nation’s special circumstances, our strong religious and cultural heritage, and the spirit of unity in safeguarding the sovereignty of our beloved country,” the Sultan said.
The monarch also expressed deepest appreciation to public service officers at all levels, the Royal Brunei Armed Forces, the Royal Brunei Police Force, other uniformed services, as well as those in the private sector, non-governmental organisations and the youth, for their dedication and tireless service throughout 2025.
Sultan Hassanal concluded by wishing all citizens and residents of Brunei Darussalam, including those abroad, a Happy New Year 2026, praying that Allah the Almighty continues to bestow lasting peace, well-being, prosperity and security upon the nation. - Borneo Bulletin/ANN
