Brunei Darussalam is a country and sovereign state located on the north coast of the island of Borneo in Southeast Asia. Apart from its coastline with the South China Sea, the country is surrounded by the state of Sarawak, Malaysia. The remainder of Borneo, and its geographically largest part is Kalimantan, part of Indonesia.
Economic growth during the 1990s and 2000s, with its gross domestic product (GDP) increasing 56% from 1999 to 2008, transformed Brunei into an industrialised country. It has developed wealth from extensive petroleum and natural gas fields. Brunei has the second-highest Human Development Index (HDI) among the Southeast Asian nations, after Singapore, and is classified as a 'developed country' by the United Nations. [1] According to the International Monetary Fund (IMF), Brunei is ranked fifth in the world by gross domestic product per capita at purchasing power parity. The IMF estimated, in 2011, that Brunei was one of two countries (the other being Libya) with a public debt at 0% of the national GDP. In 2012, Forbes also ranks Brunei as the fifth-richest nation out of 182, based on its petroleum and natural gas fields. [2]
With the recent weakening of the country's economy due to pressure on oil prices, Brunei has adopted hardline sharia law to try to gain local public support. [3] In 2019, the country issued a new law making gay sex and adultery punishable by stoning to death, even for foreigners or non-Muslims, [4] leading to a boycott of Brunei-related businesses primarily targeting hotels owned by the Sultan of Brunei and Royal Brunei Airlines. [5] [6]
This list includes notable companies with primary headquarters located in Brunei Darussalam. The industry and sector follow the Industry Classification Benchmark taxonomy. Organisations which have ceased operations are included and noted as defunct.
Name | Industry | Sector | Headquarters | Founded | Notes | Status | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Baiduri Bank | Financials | Banks | Bandar Seri Begawan | 1994 | State bank | S | A |
Bank Islam Brunei Darussalam | Financials | Banks | Bandar Seri Begawan | 2005 | State bank | S | A |
Brunei Darussalam Central Bank | Financials | Banking | Bandar Seri Begawan | 2011 | Current central bank | S | A |
Brunei Energy Services and Trading | Oil & gas | Integrated oil & gas | Bandar Seri Begawan | 2002 | State oil and gas company | S | A |
Brunei Fertilizer Industries | Industrials | Industrial goods & services | Sungai Liang | 2013 | Fertilizer plant | S | A |
Brunei Investment Agency | Financials | Investment services | Bandar Seri Begawan | 1983 | Sovereign wealth fund | S | A |
Brunei LNG | Oil & gas | Exploration & production | Lumut | 1969 | Joint venture between the government of Brunei, Mitsubishi Corporation and Brunei Shell Petroleum | P | A |
Brunei Methanol Company | Petrochemical | Exploration & production | Sungai Liang | 2006 | Joint venture between Mitsubishi Gas Chemical Company, Itochu Corporation and Mirkhas | P | A |
Brunei Shell Petroleum | Oil & gas | Exploration & production | Panaga | 1957 | Joint venture between Shell plc and the government of Brunei | P | A |
Hua Ho Department Store | Consumer services | Broadline retailers | Bandar Seri Begawan | 1947 | Founded by Lau Ah Kok | P | A |
Imagine | Telecommunications | Fixed line telecommunications | Bandar Seri Begawan | 2005 | Telecommunications, formerly TelBru | P | A |
QAF Brunei | Financials | Conglomerate | Bandar Seri Begawan | 1982 | Owned by Prince Mohamed Bolkiah | P | A |
Royal Brunei Airlines | Consumer services | Airline | Bandar Seri Begawan | 1974 | National airline | S | A |
Brunei, officially Brunei Darussalam, is a country in Southeast Asia, situated on the northern coast of the island of Borneo. Apart from its coastline on the South China Sea, it is completely surrounded by the Malaysian state of Sarawak, with its territory bifurcated by the Sarawak district of Limbang. Brunei is the only sovereign state entirely on Borneo; the remainder of the island is divided between its multi-landmass neighbours of Malaysia and Indonesia. As of 2023, the country had a population of 455,858, of whom approximately 180,000 resided in the capital and largest city of Bandar Seri Begawan. Its official language is Malay and Islam is the state religion of the country, although other religions are nominally tolerated. The government of Brunei is a constitutional absolute monarchy ruled by the Sultan, and it implements a fusion of English common law and jurisprudence inspired by Islam, including sharia.
Brunei is a country in Southeast Asia, bordering the South China Sea and East Malaysia. Its geographical coordinates are 4°30′N114°40′E. The country is small with a total size of 5,765 km2 (2,226 sq mi). It is larger in size than Trinidad and Tobago. It is close to vital sea lanes through the South China Sea linking the Indian and Pacific Oceans. The country has two parts physically separated by Malaysia, making it almost an enclave within Malaysia.
Bandar Seri Begawan, colloquially referred to as BSB, is the capital and largest city of Brunei. It is officially a municipal area with an area of 100.36 square kilometres (38.75 sq mi) and an estimated population of 100,700 as of 2007. It is part of Brunei-Muara District, the smallest yet most populous district which is home to over 70 per cent of the country's population. It is the country's largest urban centre and nominally the country's only city. The capital is home to Brunei's seat of government, as well as a commercial and cultural centre. It was formerly known as Brunei Town until it was renamed in 1970 in honour of Sultan Omar Ali Saifuddien III, the 28th Sultan of Brunei and the father of the current Sultan, Hassanal Bolkiah.
The Brunei Darussalam Scouts Association is the national Scouting and oldest non-governmental organisation in the country, established in 1933. It became a member of the World Organization of the Scout Movement (WOSM) in 1981. The association celebrate its founding on 1 July each year.
Islam is Brunei's official religion, 82.70 percent of the population is Muslim, mostly Sunnis of Malay, Arab and Indian origin who follow the Shafi'i school (76%) Hanafi and Maliki school (6%) of jurisprudence. Most of the other Muslim groups are Malay Kedayans, local Chinese and Dayak Iban converts. Islam was introduced to Brunei by traders arriving from Persia, Arabia, China and the Indian subcontinent. Therefore, other religions can be practiced freely.
Prince Abdul Azim ibni Hassanal Bolkiah was the second son of Hassanal Bolkiah, Sultan of Brunei. He was fourth in line to succeed the throne of Brunei until his death on 24 October 2020.
The following outline is provided as an overview of and a topical guide to Brunei:
Brunei and Malaysia established diplomatic relations in 1984. Brunei has a high commission in Putrajaya, as well as consulate-generals in Kota Kinabalu and Kuching. Malaysia maintains a high commission in Bandar Seri Begawan. Both countries are full members of ASEAN and the Commonwealth of Nations. The two countries share a land border on the island of Borneo. Both countries are majority ethnic Malays and maintain excellent and close economic, cultural, political and defence ties.
Brunei Darussalam and Indonesia established diplomatic relations in 1984. Since then, both countries enjoy warm and friendly relations. Brunei has an embassy in Jakarta, while Indonesia has an embassy in Bandar Seri Begawan. Indonesia and Brunei don't share direct land borders. Since diplomatic relations were established back in 1984, relations between the two countries overall progressed well, and both sides continued to enjoy strong ties in a wide spectrum of co-operations; including trade and investment, tourism, agriculture, marine and fisheries, health, defence, transnational crimes, education, youth, culture and people-to-people contacts.
Royal Brunei Armed Forces Sports Council; Malay: Majlis Sukan Angkatan Bersenjata Diraja Brunei, commonly abbreviated MS ABDB, is the multi-sport club in charge of all sporting activities of all service branches of the Royal Brunei Armed Forces, in the sultanate of Brunei Darussalam.
The Kolej Universiti Perguruan Ugama Seri Begawan is a public teacher-training university college situated in Bandar Seri Begawan, the capital of Brunei, founded in 2007. The institution aims to improve the standing of religious education in Brunei and create educators by integrating research and teaching knowledge based on Islamic principles and the Melayu Islam Beraja (MIB) concept.
Caning is used as a form of judicial corporal punishment in Brunei. This practice is heavily influenced by Brunei's history as a British protectorate from 1888 to 1984. Similar forms of corporal punishment are also used in two of Brunei's neighbouring countries, Singapore and Malaysia, which are themselves former British colonies.
Transport in Brunei consists of air, land, and sea transport. Previously there was some rail transport in Brunei, but eventually most of it was closed down. Several public and commercial sector organizations are in charge of creating and overseeing these networks and infrastructures. The Ministry of Transport and Infocommunications (MTIC) is in charge of overseeing the maritime and aviation industries, as well as planning and regulating all kinds of land transportation.
Kampong Madang is a village in Brunei-Muara District, Brunei, as well as a neighbourhood in the capital Bandar Seri Begawan. The population was 1,231 in 2016. It is one of the villages within Mukim Berakas 'B'. The postcode is BC3715.
Kampong Kumbang Pasang, or simply Kumbang Pasang, is a village within Mukim Kianggeh in Brunei-Muara District, Brunei. It is also part of the municipal area of the capital Bandar Seri Begawan. The population was 563 in 2016. It has the postcode BA1511. The village formerly hosts a rubber plantation and was named Kumbang Pasang Estate. Notably the village was once its own Mukim, known as Mukim Kumbang Pasang.
The Ministry of Defence Brunei Darussalam, officially abbreviated as MinDef, is a cabinet-level ministry of the Government of Brunei. It is responsible for the national security and its military forces within the sultanate of Brunei Darussalam; the latter collectively known as the Royal Brunei Armed Forces (RBAF); Angkatan Bersenjata Diraja Brunei, (ABDB). MinDef is Brunei's ministry of defence; and was established on 1 January 1984, when Brunei Darussalam achieved independence from the United Kingdom. The Ministry of Defence leadership presently consists of a minister ; its incumbent is the Sultan of Brunei, Hassanal Bolkiah, who is also the Supreme Commander of the RBAF / ABDB. A deputy minister is second-in-command at the Ministry of Defence.
The Football Association of Brunei Darussalam is the governing body of association foótball in Brunei.
Brunei Energy Services & Trading Sdn Bhd (BEST) is a company based in Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei Darussalam. Established in 2012 as PB Trading Sdn Bhd, it was previously a subsidiary of Brunei National Petroleum Company Sendirian Berhad, also known as PetroleumBRUNEI. Following a restructure of PetroleumBRUNEI and its subsidiaries, the regulatory authority is now known as Petroleum Authority, whilst the trading and services arm of PetroleumBRUNEI was renamed as BEST, and is now under the purview of the Ministry of Finance and Economy. BEST also provides the manpower and resources to its sister companies, Brunei Energy Exploration Sdn Bhd and Brunei Energy Production Sdn Bhd (BEP).
Muslim bin Haji Burut, pen name Muslim Burmat, was a writer from Brunei who wrote a great deal of literature, particularly novels and short stories that are used in Brunei's educational institutions. In addition to receiving numerous literary honours, his works—which are primarily realistic but also include fresh historiography—showcase aspects of Brunei society.