AGP Executive Report

Subsea Security Push: Singapore-led “GUIDE” brings 17 countries (including Brunei) together to protect critical underwater cables and energy links, with voluntary cooperation on information-sharing, best practices, and incident response as the seabed faces growing sabotage fears. Brunei Industry & Trade: Inchcape Shipping Services opened a new Brunei office to expand support for offshore, navy-related and logistics operations, including ship-to-ship agency services and local vendor partnerships. Competition Watch: Brunei’s Competition Commission warned market and festival organisers not to coordinate prices or force minimum selling prices, saying such moves can breach the Competition Act and distort fair competition. Blue Economy Spotlight: Ocean Week Brunei 2026 launches 2 June at UBD, focusing on blue economy opportunities tied to fisheries, shipping, tourism, innovation and marine ecosystem protection. Regional Energy Corridor: The US reaffirmed commitment to the Luzon Economic Corridor while discussing regional energy challenges, with Brunei included in a wider US engagement tour.

Subsea Security Push: Seventeen countries, including Brunei, launched the GUIDE framework at Singapore’s Shangri-La Dialogue to strengthen defence cooperation and norms for protecting critical underwater cables and energy links, with China and the US notably absent. Defence Procurement Watch: India’s defence secretary said a BrahMos missile deal with Vietnam is already signed (not yet publicly announced) and an Indonesia pact is in the final stages—another sign of fast-moving regional arms procurement. Brunei Shipping & Offshore: Inchcape Shipping Services opened a new Brunei office to support offshore, oil-and-gas tanker, navy-related and integrated logistics services, including ship-to-ship agency work and local partnerships. Regional Infrastructure & Trade: A BIMP-EAGA-focused piece argues Mindanao’s private sector should drive cross-border trade, value-chain upgrades and halal food development, using connectivity to link to hubs including Bandar Seri Begawan. Energy Corridor Diplomacy: The US reaffirmed commitment to develop the Luzon Economic Corridor, expanding the partnership with multiple partners and linking it to jobs and regional connectivity. Halal Food Access: Sabah’s PBBS proposed higher Kaamatan Festival allocations to expand halal food for visitors, reflecting growing demand from Brunei and Muslim communities.

Undersea Security Pact: Seventeen countries, including Brunei, Malaysia and Singapore, launched the “Guide” framework at the Shangri-La Dialogue to protect critical underwater cables and energy links, with voluntary principles for information sharing and crisis response—while China and the US stayed out. Defence Exports Watch: India’s defence secretary said a BrahMos missile deal with Vietnam is already signed (not yet publicly announced) and an Indonesia pact is in final stages, with deal values still undisclosed. Brunei Shipping Move: Inchcape Shipping Services opened a new Brunei office to support offshore, oil-and-gas tanker, navy-related and integrated logistics services, including ship-to-ship agency work and local vendor partnerships. Regional Rail Planning: Sarawak will prioritise the Bintulu–Samalaju rail link as the first phase of the Trans-Borneo Railway, citing industrial growth and cargo volumes. Energy-Industry Angle: A Reuters-style column highlights how higher oil and LNG prices from the Iran conflict are benefiting energy exporters like Brunei, boosting crude and refined exports.

Undersea Security Pact: Seventeen countries, including Brunei, launched the GUIDE framework at Singapore’s Shangri-La Dialogue to protect critical underwater cables and energy networks, with a focus on shared norms, information sharing, and faster crisis response. Defence Exports Watch: India’s Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh said Vietnam’s BrahMos cruise missile deal is already signed (not yet publicly announced) while Indonesia’s pact is in the final stages—values still undisclosed. ASEAN Defence Cooperation: ASEAN defence ministers reiterated ASEAN centrality and discussed joint training and exercises, including HADR cooperation under ADMM-Plus. Brunei Shipping & Offshore Support: Inchcape Shipping Services opened a new Brunei office to back offshore, oil and gas tanker, navy-related activities and integrated logistics, including ship-to-ship agency support. Regional Rail Build-Out: Sarawak will prioritise the Bintulu–Samalaju rail link as the first phase of the Trans-Borneo Railway plan, citing industrial growth and cargo volumes.

Undersea Security Pact: Seventeen countries, including Brunei and Singapore, launched the GUIDE framework at the Shangri-La Dialogue to protect critical underwater cables and energy links, with China and the US notably absent—aiming for shared principles, best practices, and faster coordination after disruptions. Defence Procurement Watch: India’s Defence Secretary said a BrahMos missile deal with Vietnam is already signed (not yet publicly announced) while talks with Indonesia are in the final stages, as values remain undisclosed. Shipping & Offshore Services: Inchcape Shipping Services opened a new Brunei office to support offshore, oil and gas tanker, navy-related activities, and integrated logistics, including ship-to-ship agency work and partnerships for storage, transport, fabrication, and repairs. Tourism Connectivity: Sarawak Tourism Board and Royal Brunei Airlines signed an MoU to boost Sarawak’s international tourism access, positioning the state as the “Gateway to Borneo.” Brunei Business & Skills: AITi’s Brunei TechXplore digital apprenticeship programme wrapped up, highlighting hands-on ICT experience for employability and global exposure, while Brunei’s April CPI rose 0.1% year-on-year, driven mainly by higher food prices.

Shipping & Logistics in Brunei: Inchcape Shipping Services opened a new office in Brunei Darussalam to boost support for offshore, naval and logistics operations, including ship-to-ship agency services and added local vendor partnerships for storage, transport, fabrication and minor spares. Tourism Connectivity: Sarawak Tourism Board and Royal Brunei Airlines signed an MoU to strengthen regional connectivity and grow Sarawak’s international tourism, positioning the state as the “Gateway to Borneo.” Digital Skills for Industry: Brunei’s AITI wrapped up its TechXplore Digital Apprenticeship Program, aimed at building ICT employability and global exposure aligned with Brunei Vision 2035. Cost of Living Watch: Brunei CPI rose 0.1% in April, mainly driven by higher food prices, while non-food eased slightly. Fraud & Cybercrime Crackdown: A cross-border anti-scam operation led to 3,018 arrests tied to about $752 million in reported losses, with Brunei included among the jurisdictions. Halal Trade Push (Regional): The Philippines’ 11th Halal Trade and Tourism Expo (June 3–5) will feature business matching and a permanent “Universal Halal Hub” to keep MSME products selling after the event. Energy & Fertiliser Supply (Regional): Australia secured additional urea shipments amid Strait of Hormuz uncertainty, underscoring how fuel disruptions can quickly ripple into food and farm inputs.

Shipping & Logistics: Inchcape Shipping Services opened a new Brunei office to back offshore, naval and logistics operations, including port agency services and added support like storage, transport, fabrication yards and ship-to-ship agency coverage. Energy & Resilience: President Marcos met former Japan PM Fumio Kishida in Tokyo on regional energy security and the AZEC/POWERR Asia push, with Japan’s $10bn support package aimed at procurement, stockpiling, diversification and efficiency. Brunei Industry & Skills: AITI’s Brunei TechXplore Digital Apprenticeship Program wrapped up, highlighting hands-on ICT experience and international exposure for employability under Brunei’s digital transformation agenda. FinTech Regulation: Brunei’s BDCB amended its FinTech Regulatory Sandbox guidelines to broaden eligible participants and clarify what solutions can be tested, with safeguards for consumer protection and market stability. Consumer Watch: Brunei CPI edged up 0.1% in April year-on-year, mainly from higher food prices, while non-food was slightly lower. Tourism Connectivity: Sarawak Tourism Board and Royal Brunei Airlines signed an MoU to strengthen connectivity and boost Sarawak’s international tourism push. Regional Trade & Food Security: ASEAN reiterated that food security is tied to fuel security as energy disruptions ripple into fertiliser, shipping and food value chains.

Maritime & Logistics: Inchcape Shipping Services opened a new Brunei office to boost local support for offshore, navy-related and oil-and-gas tanker operations, adding port agency services plus storage, transport, fabrication yard access, private jetty loading and minor spares/repair via local partners. Digital Skills: AITI’s Brunei TechXplore Digital Apprenticeship Program wrapped up, aiming to give ICT graduates hands-on industry experience and international exposure aligned with Brunei’s digital transformation. Cost of Living: Brunei’s CPI rose 0.1% in April year-on-year, mainly driven by higher food prices, while non-food edged down. Tourism Operations: Brunei’s Tourism Development Department, with BSP, held an engagement session for licensed travel agencies and guides on safe, compliant tour procedures and managing visitor movements. FinTech Regulation: BDCB amended its FinTech Regulatory Sandbox guidelines to widen eligible participants and clarify what solutions can be tested under safeguards. Blue Economy & Talent: Ocean Week Brunei opened entries for the Brunei Ocean Arts photography competition and youth ocean initiatives, with BND5,000+ in prizes and grants.

Retail & Foodservice Expansion: Malaysia’s Zus Coffee has opened its first Jakarta outlet at Puri Indah Mall via a partnership with Kapal Api Group, continuing its rapid Southeast Asia rollout that already includes Brunei, Singapore, Thailand and the Philippines. Tourism Connectivity: Sarawak Tourism Board and Royal Brunei Airlines signed an MoU in Shanghai to boost Sarawak’s international tourism access under the “Gateway to Borneo” push. Local Skills & Digital Industry: Brunei’s AITI says its Brunei TechXplore Digital Apprenticeship programme is building employability and global exposure for ICT graduates. FinTech Regulation: Brunei Darussalam Central Bank updated its FinTech Regulatory Sandbox guidelines to widen eligibility to qualified financial institutions and clarify testable solutions. Consumer Watch: Brunei CPI rose 0.1% in April year-on-year, driven mainly by higher food prices. Blue Economy & Talent: Ocean Week Brunei opened entries for the Brunei Ocean Arts photography competition and youth ocean awards, with prizes totalling over BND5,000. AI for Agriculture: Brunei’s Team ΣHAI won the AI Ready ASEAN Youth Challenge 2026 for an AI dementia care platform, highlighting regional momentum in applied AI solutions.

Tourism Connectivity Boost: Sarawak Tourism Board and Royal Brunei Airlines signed an MoU in Shanghai to strengthen regional access and lift Sarawak’s “Gateway to Borneo” appeal. Live Events Push (Miri): Deputy Minister Chiew Choon Man urged more singers and comedians to bring shows to Miri, saying live entertainment supports tourism and local business. Travel Trade Calendar: Travel Meet Asia 2026 returns to Jakarta (23–24 June), with Brunei named Official Partner Country and tied to the launch of Visit Brunei 2027. Digital Skills for Industry: Brunei TechXplore’s Digital Apprenticeship Program wrapped up, aiming to build ICT employability and global exposure aligned with Vision 2035. Cost of Living Watch: Brunei CPI rose 0.1% in April (year-on-year), mainly from higher food prices. FinTech Regulation Update: BDCB amended its FinTech Regulatory Sandbox guidelines to broaden eligible participants and clarify suitable solutions for testing. AI Talent Win: Brunei’s ΣHAI team won overall champion at the AI Ready ASEAN Youth Challenge 2026 for an AI dementia care platform.

Food & Agribusiness: Hewitt Foods has agreed to buy Nolan Meats, with the deal expected to close in the second half of 2026, keeping Nolan’s Queensland operations running “business as usual” in the meantime. Aviation & Defence Procurement: Airbus secured another C295 order for Thailand’s Royal Thai Navy—two aircraft in enhanced transport configuration for logistics plus surveillance and search-and-rescue, with first delivery targeted for end-2028; Brunei also recently received its final two C295MWs. Digital Skills & Innovation: Brunei TechXplore’s Digital Apprenticeship Program wrapped up, aiming to boost ICT graduates’ employability and global exposure aligned with Brunei’s digital transformation agenda. Cost of Living Watch: Brunei CPI rose 0.1% in April year-on-year, mainly driven by higher food prices. Finance & Regulation: Brunei Darussalam Central Bank amended its FinTech Regulatory Sandbox guidelines to broaden eligible participants and sharpen clarity on testable solutions. Blue Economy & Talent: Ocean Week Brunei opened entries for the Brunei Ocean Arts photography competition and youth ocean awards, with over BND5,000 in prizes and grants. Tourism Operations: Brunei’s Tourism Development Department, with BSP, held an engagement session for licensed travel agencies and guides on safe, compliant tour procedures. AI for Social Impact: Brunei’s Team ΣHAI won the inaugural AI Ready ASEAN Youth Challenge 2026 for its AI-powered dementia care platform, Sahabat-Care.

Anti-Scam Sweep: A major cross-border crackdown has arrested 3,018 suspects linked to about $752 million in reported losses, freezing roughly 102,000 bank accounts and recovering over $161 million after a two-month operation involving Singapore and nine other agencies across 10 territories. Energy & Trade: In the Philippines, the DOE says the Semirara coal auction could resume by mid-2026 as it fine-tunes bidding terms after concerns from prospective bidders. Brunei Economy & Skills: Brunei’s CPI rose 0.1% in April, mainly from higher food prices, while AITI’s Brunei TechXplore program wrapped up with a push to grow digital apprenticeship and employability. Fertiliser Security: Australia secured an extra 80,250 tonnes of urea as uncertainty around Iran-US tensions keeps Strait of Hormuz risks in focus. Tourism & Industry: Brunei’s travel frontliners got an engagement session on safe, compliant tour operations, and DST’s Catalyst awards crowned BumiTrust for an AI soil-monitoring agri solution.

Digital Skills Push: AITI wrapped up its Brunei TechXplore Digital Apprenticeship Program, saying it’s built to boost employability, adaptability and global exposure for local ICT graduates—directly tied to Brunei’s digital transformation agenda. Inflation Watch: Brunei’s CPI in April edged up 0.1% year-on-year, mainly from higher food prices, while non-food costs slipped slightly. Food Security & Trade Risk: Australia secured an extra 80,250 tonnes of urea as Iran–US tensions keep the Strait of Hormuz uncertain, underlining how fertiliser supply can swing with geopolitics. Tourism Safety & Standards: Brunei’s Tourism Development Department, with BSP, held an engagement session for licensed travel agencies and guides on safe, orderly and compliant tour operations. Business Expansion: Rectitude Holdings said it’s ramping supply chain and fleet capacity to meet rising Singapore construction demand. Innovation Spotlight: DST Innovation Awards named Team BumiTrust top for an AI soil-monitoring solution aimed at safer, smarter farming.

Travel & Tourism: Travel Meet Asia 2026 returns to Jakarta on 23–24 June, drawing 1,500 travel professionals, and spotlights Brunei as Official Partner Country with the launch of Visit Brunei 2027. Innovation & Agri-tech: Malaysia’s VentureTECH invests in Pacton Technologies to scale FishSpeak, an AI-and-IoT aquaculture management platform expanding across ASEAN including Brunei. Maritime Tensions: Taiwan reports a tense standoff near the Pratas Islands after heated radio exchanges with a Chinese coast guard vessel, with Taipei on heightened alert amid rising activity. Finance & Regulation: Brunei’s central bank expands its FinTech Regulatory Sandbox to let qualified financial institutions test innovations alongside fintech firms. Regional Security: A cross-border fraud crackdown (Operation FRONTIER+ III) ends with 3,018 arrests and about $752m in reported losses, with $161m recovered. Local Culture & Sports: Sarawak launches Borneo International Halal Showcase (Bihas) 2026 and prepares for the Sarawak International Open Boxing Championship in Miri.

AI & Agri-Tech Deal: VentureTECH invested in Pacton Technologies to scale FishSpeak, an AI-and-IoT aquaculture platform, with expansion targets including Indonesia, Vietnam, Brunei and the Philippines. Maritime Tensions: Taiwan reported a heated radio exchange after a Chinese coast guard vessel approached the Pratas Islands, as regional alert levels stay high. ASEAN Tourism Push: The Philippines’ ASEAN chairship is translating diplomacy into tourism gains, supported by visa-free travel and a World Economic Forum growth outlook. Food Security Financing: The World Bank-backed Philippines PSAT agriculture reform program (USD1bn) links farm productivity, value chains and government performance using a results-based funding model. Brunei Innovation: Brunei’s BDCB expanded its FinTech regulatory sandbox to include more qualified financial institutions, while Team ΣHAI won first place at the AI Ready ASEAN Youth Challenge with a dementia care AI platform. Energy Shock Watch: Australia is preparing for fuel risks tied to Middle East disruptions, with alternative shipments already in motion.

ASEAN Chairship Boost: The Philippines’ ASEAN chairship is translating into real tourism gains, with visa-free regional travel and a push to keep the country “top-of-mind” for ASEAN visitors as the Cebu summit gets underway. Agriculture Reform: The World Bank is backing the Philippines’ USD 1bn PSAT agriculture reform programme, tying funding to measurable farm productivity and value-chain targets. Energy Shock Watch: Australia is bracing for a deeper fuel crunch as Middle East disruptions tighten global oil flows, weighing worst-case retail rationing while securing extra jet fuel and fuel supplies—including from Brunei—under its fuel security plan. Brunei Innovation: Brunei’s Central Bank has expanded its FinTech regulatory sandbox to include more qualified financial institutions, aiming for faster, safer adoption of new financial solutions. Regional Culture & Industry: Sarawak is moving ahead with major connectivity and growth plans—from support for a Trans-Borneo Railway to tourism resilience targets—while Kuching hosts big-ticket events like the Borneo Island Big Bike Festival.