BEDB, Brunei DarussalamThe Brunei Economic Development Board, The Prime Minister's Office
   
Introducing Brunei
Economic Overview
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Brunei's Advantage
Wawasan Brunei 2035
National Development Plan
   
 
 

Brunei's National Vision

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The following is Brunei Darussalam’s National Vision or Wawasan as authorised by His Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah, Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam, launched in January 2008.
WAWASAN BRUNEI 2035
 
By 2035 we wish to see Brunei Darussalam recognised everywhere for:
  • the accomplishments of its well-educated and highly skilled people                                                         
  • the quality of life                                                                                                                                                  
  • the dynamic, sustainable economy
As we work towards these aims, we will be united in:
  • our  loyalty to our Sultan and our Country
  • our belief in the values of Islam
  • our traditional tolerance and social harmony
TOWARDS 2035: CONTINUITY AND CHANGE
 
Brunei Darussalam today enjoys one of the highest standards of living in Asia.
 
Its per capita income is one of the highest in Asia and it has already achieved almost all the target of the Millennium Development Goals.
 
Its standards of education and health are among the highest in the developing world.
 
This has been largely the result of political stability created by His Majesty’s Government’s investment of oil and gas revenues in infrastructure and in the development of far-reaching programme of social welfare.
 
Current prosperity, however, cannot be taken for granted. If the people are to continue to enjoy their high standard of living, planning must take account of a number of emerging social and economic facts.
  • Although oil and gas resources have contributed much to the nation’s prosperity, economic growth has, on the whole, not kept pace with population growth.
  • The public sector that is the main employer of the majority of the citizens and residents can no longer adequately absorb the growing numbers of young people wishing to enter the work force each year.
  • There is a widening gap between the expectations and capabilities of the nation’s youth and the employment opportunities currently being created.
  • The oil and gas sector that makes up about half of the economy and over 90% of export earnings employs less than 3% of the work force.
  • The local business community continues to be weak and is unable to create the employment opportunities now required.
In order to offer its people a bright and prosperous future, Brunei Darussalam must, therefore, adapt to change and all that this entails by way of ambition, innovation and bold planning.
 
The challenge facing the nation lies in finding ways to do this successfully whilst, at the same time, upholding the values upon which the nation has developed and progressed.
 
OUR VISION FOR 2035
 
To meet this challenge successfully by 2035 we aspire to excel in the following key areas:
 
An educated, highly skilled and accomplished people
 
We will seek to build a first class education system that provides opportunities for every citizen and resident to meet the requirements of our changing economy and encourages life-long learning as well as achievements in sport and the arts.
 
Our success will be measured by the highest international standards.
 
Our quality of life
 
Our people deserve the best home we can give them. We will seek to provide our people with high standards of living and political stability while ensuring proper care of our environment and the vital support needed by all members of our society.
 
We will measure our quality of life by reference to the United Nations Human Development Index and aim to be among the top 10 nations in the world.
 
Our dynamic and sustainable economy
 
A continued high standard of living requires our economic growth to keep pace with our population growth. We will seek to build an economy that provides our people with quality employment in both public and private sectors and also offers great economic opportunities.
 
We will measure our economy by reference to its capacity to support continuously rising living standards. Our aim is for Brunei Darussalam’s per capita income to be within that of the top 10 countries of the world.
 
ENDURING VALUES
 
While recognising the need to change, we will continue to uphold vigorously the values that have been the foundation of our political stability, social harmony and prosperity.
 
In our work we shall be guided at all times by our commitment to the Brunei monarchy and nation, our faith in the values of Islam, based on the Ahli Sunnah Wal-Jemaah, Mazhaf Shafie and our tradition of tolerance, compassion and social harmony.
 
We believe that our ability to adapt and manage change is greatly enhanced by the MIB concept which is inspired by these core values.
 
ACHIEVING BRUNEI 2035
 
We will need to develop and implement an integrated and well-coordinated national strategy comprising the following key elements:
  • An education strategy that will prepare our youth for employment and achievement in a world that is increasingly competitive and knowledge-based.
  • An economic strategy that will create new employment for our people and expand business opportunities within Brunei Darussalam through the promotion of investment, foreign and domestic, both in downstream industries as well as in economic clusters beyond the oil and gas industry.
  • A security strategy that will safeguard our political stability and our sovereignty as a nation and that links our defense and diplomatic capabilities and our capacity to respond to threats from disease and natural catastrophe.
  • An institutional development strategy that will enhance good governance in both the public and private sectors, high quality public services, modern and pragmatic legal and regulatory frameworks and efficient government procedures that entail a minimum of bureaucratic “red tape”.
  • A local business development strategy that will enhance opportunities for local small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) as well as enable Brunei Malays to achieve leadership in business and industry by developing greater competitive strength.
  • An infrastructure development strategy that will ensure continued investment by government and through public-private sector partnerships in developing and maintaining world-class infrastructure with special emphasis placed on education, health and industry.
  • A social security strategy that ensures that, as the nation prospers, all citizens are properly cared for.
  • An environmental strategy that ensures the proper conservation of our natural environment and cultural habitat. It will provide health and safety in line with the highest international practices.
To realise our Vision of Brunei 2035, the strategies listed above will need to be developed by both government and private bodies and implemented as a well-coordinated national strategy.
 
Source: Brunei Darussalam Long-Term Development Plan, Wawasan Brunei 2035