AGP Executive Report

Health Regulation: Brunei issued 29 fines totalling B$18,000 for health-product offences from January to September. The penalties involved 28 companies and one individual, with violations including unlicensed sales and products containing undeclared or prohibited ingredients. Halal Trade: Singapore and Brunei have agreed to recognise each other’s halal certificates, aiming to cut duplicate checks and make trade easier while maintaining certification standards. Supply Resilience: The two countries also signed an agreement to strengthen supplies of essentials, including food, fuel and medical goods. Travel: Royal Brunei Airlines cancelled its 13 October flights to and from Jeddah after reviewing security risks in Saudi Arabia; other Saudi-bound services remain under review. Regional Environment: Cross-border haze affecting Brunei and neighbouring countries is set to be raised at an ASEAN foreign ministers’ meeting ahead of next month’s Manila summit.

Halal Trade: Singapore and Brunei signed an agreement to recognise each other’s halal certificates, aiming to ease trade and give businesses and consumers greater confidence in certified products. Flight Restrictions: A reported United Airlines crew memo lists Brunei among 29 nationalities whose pilots and cabin crew may be restricted from Israel flights, including staff with dual nationality. Supply Security: A separate Singapore-Brunei agreement covers essential goods including food, fuel and medical supplies. Royal Brunei Airlines: RB cancelled its 13 October Jeddah flights after a security review; other Saudi services remain under assessment. Regional Haze: Wildfires in Indonesia have brought haze to Brunei and neighbouring countries, with the issue set for discussion by ASEAN foreign ministers ahead of next month’s summit. Football: DPMM FC reached the FA Cup semi-finals after a 1-0 win over Kuala Lumpur City secured a 4-3 aggregate victory.

Flight Update: Royal Brunei Airlines cancelled its 13 October flights to and from Jeddah after a security review, with other Saudi services still under assessment. Haze Watch: Indonesian fires have sent haze across the region, including Brunei; Malaysia plans to raise the issue at an ASEAN ministers’ meeting next month. An AI-generated map falsely showing fires in Brunei has also circulated online. Trade Resilience: Brunei and Singapore signed an MoU to strengthen supplies of essentials such as food, fuel and medical goods. Research & Innovation: UBD and AmiproSimpor agreed to collaborate on research, training and bringing research to market. Football: DPMM FC reached the FA Cup semi-finals after beating Kuala Lumpur City 1–0 in the second leg, advancing 4–3 on aggregate.

Regional Haze: ASEAN foreign ministers plan to discuss the worsening transboundary haze ahead of next month’s summit. Fires in Indonesia have affected Brunei and other neighbours, while Malaysia says haze is not covered by the bloc’s existing natural-disaster mechanisms. Travel Disruption: Royal Brunei Airlines cancelled its 13 October flights between Brunei and Jeddah after assessing security risks in Saudi Arabia. Other Saudi services remain under review. Supply Security: Singapore and Brunei signed an agreement to strengthen supplies of essentials, including food, fuel and medical goods, and reaffirmed commitments under the ASEAN trade pact. Research and Innovation: Universiti Brunei Darussalam and AmiproSimpor will explore joint research, training and commercialisation, supporting local skills and economic diversification. Football: DPMM FC reached the FA Cup semi-finals, edging Kuala Lumpur City 4–3 on aggregate after a 1–0 away win. Defence Ties: Brunei and Singapore marked 50 years of defence relations with a joint parade at Muara Naval Base, attended by Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah and Singapore Prime Minister Lawrence Wong.

Flight Update: Royal Brunei Airlines cancelled its 13 October flights to and from Jeddah after reviewing security risks in Saudi Arabia. Other Saudi services remain under review; passengers should check RB updates before travelling. Regional Haze: ASEAN foreign ministers will discuss cross-border haze next month, as fires in Indonesia affect Brunei and neighbouring countries. Malaysia says the issue needs special attention because haze is not covered by the bloc’s existing disaster mechanism. Essential Supplies: Singapore and Brunei signed an agreement to strengthen supply-chain resilience for food, fuel, crude oil and medical supplies, building on their trade commitments. Research Partnership: Universiti Brunei Darussalam and AmiproSimpor will explore joint research, innovation and training to connect local industry and academia. Football: DPMM FC reached the FA Cup semi-finals, beating Kuala Lumpur City 1-0 in the second leg to advance 4-3 on aggregate. Defence Ties: Brunei and Singapore marked 50 years of defence relations with a joint parade at Muara Naval Base, attended by Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah and Singapore Prime Minister Lawrence Wong.

Supply Chain: Brunei and Singapore signed an MoU to strengthen supplies of essential goods, including food, fuel and medical supplies, building on their trade agreement and long-standing partnership. Football: DPMM FC reached the FA Cup semi-finals after a 1-0 win over Kuala Lumpur City secured a 4-3 aggregate victory. Defence Ties: Brunei and Singapore marked 50 years of defence relations with a joint parade at Muara Naval Base, attended by Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah and Singapore Prime Minister Lawrence Wong. Research and Innovation: Universiti Brunei Darussalam and AmiproSimpor signed an MoU to expand joint research, training and commercialisation, supporting local skills and economic diversification. Regional Haze: Severe fires in Indonesia have sent unhealthy air across parts of Southeast Asia, with regional voices urging stronger prevention and fire control.

Football: Brunei’s DPMM FC reached the 2026 FA Cup semi-finals after a 1-0 win over Kuala Lumpur City secured a 4-3 aggregate victory. Haze: Severe fires in Indonesia have pushed pollution to dangerous levels, affecting air quality across Southeast Asia and renewing calls for stronger prevention and fire control. Regional Diplomacy: Myanmar’s spokesperson says Indonesia and Brunei may invite Min Aung Hlaing for official visits, though no dates have been announced. Defence Ties: Brunei and Singapore marked 50 years of defence relations with a joint parade at Muara Naval Base, attended by Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah and Singapore Prime Minister Lawrence Wong. Research and Industry: Universiti Brunei Darussalam and AmiproSimpor signed an MoU to expand research, innovation, training and commercialisation, supporting local skills and economic diversification. Energy: Brunei is among ASEAN’s “foundational” countries for battery-storage adoption, as the region faces regulatory hurdles in building a cross-border power grid. Travel: Brunei’s passport ranked ninth among 56 Commonwealth passports, behind Singapore and Malaysia.

Football: Brunei’s DPMM FC reached the 2026 FA Cup semi-finals, edging Kuala Lumpur City 4-3 on aggregate after a 1-0 win in the second leg. Jordan Murray scored the decisive goal in the 11th minute. Defence Ties: Singapore and Brunei marked 50 years of defence cooperation with a joint parade at Muara Naval Base, attended by Prime Minister Lawrence Wong and Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah. The event featured 256 personnel from both countries’ armed forces. Research and Industry: Universiti Brunei Darussalam and pharmaceutical firm AmiproSimpor signed an MoU to explore joint research, innovation and training, linking university work with industry needs. Banking: Baiduri Bank has established a US$2 billion Euro Medium Term Note programme to diversify funding and connect with international investors. Sport: From 2027, beIN Sports will carry exclusive Wimbledon coverage in Brunei and nine other Southeast Asian markets through 2031.

Research and Industry: Universiti Brunei Darussalam and AmiproSimpor signed an MoU to explore joint research, innovation, consultancy and industry placements, supporting workforce development and economic diversification. Defence Ties: Brunei and Singapore marked 50 years of defence relations with a joint parade at Muara Naval Base, attended by Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah and Prime Minister Lawrence Wong. The event featured 256 personnel and military assets. Development: Brunei and the Islamic Development Bank Group launched their first Country Engagement Framework to strengthen strategic cooperation. Banking: Baiduri Bank established a US$2 billion note programme to diversify funding and connect with international investors. Sport: BeIN will hold exclusive Wimbledon broadcast rights in Brunei from 2027 to 2031.

Defence Ties: Singapore and Brunei marked 50 years of defence relations with a joint parade at Muara Naval Base on Oct 10. Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah and Prime Minister Lawrence Wong reviewed 256 personnel and military assets, then launched a gallery on the partnership. Regional Haze: Indonesia’s severe forest fires are drawing protests and a lawsuit against officials over their response, as smoke and health impacts spread across Southeast Asia. Development: Brunei and the Islamic Development Bank launched their first Country Engagement Framework to strengthen cooperation, and the Sultan received the bank’s group chairman. Banking: Baiduri Bank established a US$2 billion Euro Medium Term Note Programme to diversify funding and broaden access to international investors. Sport: From 2027, beIN Sports will carry exclusive Wimbledon coverage in Brunei and nine other Asian markets through 2031. Faith: Brunei’s Dayangku Siti Ummi Syazana Pengiran Marjuki represented the country at Malaysia’s International Quran Recital and Memorisation Assembly.

Brunei-Singapore Ties: Singapore Prime Minister Lawrence Wong visited Brunei to mark 50 years of defence relations. He and Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah attended a joint military parade and launched a gallery on the partnership. Banking: Baiduri Bank established a US$2 billion Euro Medium Term Note programme, giving it a new route to international investors and diversifying its funding. Development: The Sultan received Islamic Development Bank Group Chairman Muhammad Al Jasser as Brunei and the bank launched their first 2026–2028 cooperation framework, focused on economic diversification, private-sector growth and Islamic finance. Sports: From 2027 to 2031, beIN Sports will hold exclusive Wimbledon broadcast rights in Brunei and nine other Asian markets. Regional Issues: An Amnesty International report says Brunei has maintained a halt to executions, as several ASEAN countries move away from capital punishment.

Brunei–Singapore Ties: Prime Minister Lawrence Wong is in Brunei for a two-day visit marking 50 years of defence relations. He and Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah are due to attend a joint military parade at Muara Naval Base on Saturday and open a gallery on the forces’ partnership. Quran Recital: Brunei’s Dayangku Siti Ummi Syazana Pengiran Marjuki drew attention at Malaysia’s International Quran Recital and Memorisation Assembly, running through Oct. 10. Sports: Wimbledon will remain available to Brunei viewers on beIN Sports and beIN Sports Connect, with the broadcaster securing exclusive rights across Southeast Asia and Hong Kong from 2027 to 2031. Business and Development: Baiduri Bank has established a US$2 billion note programme to diversify funding and connect with international investors. Brunei and the Islamic Development Bank have also launched their first country framework, for 2026–28, focused on economic diversification and sustainable development.

Defence Ties: Singapore Prime Minister Lawrence Wong begins a two-day visit to Brunei today, marking 50 years of defence relations. He and Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah are due to attend a joint parade at Muara Naval Base on Saturday and launch a commemorative gallery. Development: Brunei and the Islamic Development Bank have launched their first country framework, covering 2026–2028. It sets out cooperation on economic diversification, private-sector growth, Islamic finance and sustainable development. Banking: Baiduri Bank has established a US$2 billion Euro Medium Term Note Programme, giving it more funding options and access to international investors. Regional Environment: Residents in several Indonesian provinces are protesting over recurring forest and land fires, with some seeking legal action against the government as haze and health concerns persist.

Singapore-Brunei Ties: Prime Minister Lawrence Wong visits Brunei on Oct 9-10 to mark 50 years of defence relations. He and Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah are due to attend a joint parade at Muara Naval Base and launch a gallery on the military partnership. Wong will also visit Singapore Armed Forces personnel training in Temburong. Banking: Baiduri Bank has established a US$2 billion Euro Medium Term Note Programme, giving it more options to raise funds from international investors. Development: Brunei and the Islamic Development Bank launched their first country engagement framework, for 2026-2028, to support economic diversification and other priorities under Wawasan Brunei 2035. Quran Recital: Brunei’s Dayangku Siti Ummi Syazana Pengiran Marjuki drew attention with her recitation at an international Quran assembly in Kuala Lumpur, which brings together 50 participants from 38 countries.

Regional Haze: Indonesia’s severe peatland fires have prompted a lawsuit alleging government negligence, as smoke spreads across Southeast Asia. Researchers say restoring peatland water levels is key to preventing fires. Defence Ties: Brunei and US forces trained together in Exercise Pahlawan Warrior 26, with jungle operations, live-fire coordination and cyber defence among the areas covered. Development: Brunei and the Islamic Development Bank launched their first 2026–28 country framework, targeting economic diversification, private-sector growth and sustainable development. Asian Games: Brunei was among four delegations to win a single bronze at the Nagoya Games, which wrapped up this week; Qatar will host the 2030 edition.

Defence ties: Brunei and Oklahoma National Guard troops trained together in Exercise Pahlawan Warrior 26, with about 130 US personnel joining Royal Brunei Land Forces for jungle and urban operations, live-fire drills and specialist exchanges. Development: Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah received the Islamic Development Bank Group chairman as Brunei launched its first 2026–28 country framework with the bank, targeting economic diversification, private-sector growth and sustainable development. Economic outlook: Brunei is among 28 economies covered by the APO’s new productivity accounts, which track performance through 2024 and project trends to 2035. Asian Games: Brunei was among four delegations to win one bronze medal at the Nagoya Games, which wrapped up on Oct. 4; Qatar will host the next edition in 2030.