UK Trade Mission to Brunei Darussalam
Following a visit earlier this year by Martin Kent, His Majesty’s Trade Commissioner for Asia Pacific, the UK-ASEAN Business Council (UKABC) was pleased to work in partnership with the Department for Business and Trade and The British High Commission in Brunei to deliver the first-ever UK Trade Mission to Brunei Darussalam. 12 companies joined us on the mission which ran from 25-27 November 2024.
The UK and Brunei Darussalam have a well-established relationship that is deeply rooted in strong royal, educational, political, and defence ties. However, UK-Brunei bilateral trade was only £120 million to the end of Q2 2024. This mission aimed to expand the bilateral trading relationship through fostering new partnerships in Brunei’s pivotal sectors of Clean Energy, Education, Maritime and Decommissioning, as well as digitalisation.
Led by Rhiannon Harries, Deputy Trade Commissioner for Southeast Asia, the mission programme included a mix of meetings with Brunei Ministers and their senior leadership teams, senior figures as well as site visits to areas of business opportunity such as High Education Institutions including Laksamana College of Business (LCB); Brunei Shell Petroleum (BSP); and Anson International. The mission programme also included the inaugural UK-Brunei Business Forum which presented a unique opportunity for UK and Bruneian businesses and government representatives to discuss how to grow the bilateral trade and investment relationship. Receptions were also hosted by H.E. Alexandra Mackenzie, British High Commissioner to Brunei as well as the Britain Brunei Business Forum providing opportunities for the delegation to enjoy high quality networking and to hear first-hand about doing business in Brunei.
Brunei’s strategic location, political stability, and business-friendly policies make it an attractive market for international partnerships, particularly with the United Kingdom. The UK accession to the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) will mark the first Free Trade Agreement (FTA) between the UK and Brunei. This will unlock further trade benefits for both countries in a wide range of business sectors. Please visit great.gov.uk if you are a UK company interested in exploring opportunities in Brunei.
Our thanks to the Department of Business and Trade, the British High Commission in Brunei, the British Brunei Business Forum, the Brunei Economic Development Board and all the organisations that welcomed the delegation for their great support and engagement.
