Answer for Oral Question PL258

QUESTION

Yang Berhormat Pehin Orang Kaya Laila Setia Dato Seri Setia Awang Haji Abd. Rahman bin Haji Ibrahim

YANG BERHORMAT PEHIN ORANG KAYA LAILA SETIA DATO SERI SETIA AWANG HAJI ABDUL RAHMAN BIN HAJI IBRAHIM asked MENTERI EKONOMI, PERDAGANGAN DAN INDUSTRI to state the new high-impact strategies that will be implemented to increase the contribution of the four other main sectors besides downstream industries, particularly in broadening the economic and national revenue base as well as enhancing resilience and inclusiveness, given that the increase in export value and contribution to GDP from the non-oil and gas sector is largely driven by downstream industries.

ANSWER

Yang Berhormat Menteri Ekonomi, Perdagangan dan Industri

Among the new high-impact strategies that will be implemented to increase the contribution of the four other main sectors besides downstream industries are as follows:

1) Tourism – Visit Brunei Year (VBY) 2027 and Regenerative Tourism

The VBY 2027 is expected to serve as a booster for the growth of the tourism industry. I have previously stated the VBY 2027 strategy.

Meanwhile, the concept of Regenerative Tourism involves:

(a) Empowering the participation of local people / communities

(b) Involving culture, including the culture of Brunei’s seven ethnic groups and Islamic culture

(c) Restoring the environmental ecosystem.

Through this Regenerative Tourism approach, the Ministry will actively engage communities in jointly participating in the successful implementation of tourism programmes, thereby generating income and employment for local villagers.

2) Food Sector

(i) A proposal to establish the Brunei-Singapore Agri-Tech Food Zone (ATFZ) has been pursued between the Government of Kebawah Duli Yang Maha Mulia and the Government of Singapore, with the aim of strengthening Food Supply Resilience and attracting high-value investment. In the first phase, this project will focus on the aquaculture industry, including the entire whole value chain Aquaculture.

The current status is at the feasibility study stage, which is expected to be completed by the end of this year.

(ii) Export Drive Initiative – Previously, our focus was largely directed towards achieving self-sufficiency. To ensure that the Food Industry continues to grow, the Ministry introduced this initiative several years ago. This initiative not only encourages the continued growth of the sector, but also enhances and strengthens food security. For example, chicken eggs previously achieved 100% self-sufficiency, and through this Export Drive Initiative, self-sufficiency has increased to 112%. We have also succeeded in exporting more agricultural and fisheries products. These include various types of fish, prawns, fruits and, Insya Allah, vegetables and chicken as well.

3) Services Sector (Manufacturing / Logistic)

The focus of this strategy is to establish Brunei as a BIMP-EAGA hub. Although this concept was raised and promoted a long time ago, Alhamdulillah, since last year its implementation has gained momentum together with identified local companies. Transhipment activities in Brunei have been intensified since last year, with vessels from Brunei beginning to connect Negara Brunei Darussalam with certain areas of BIMP-EAGA. From July 2024 to June 2027, more than 2,000 TEUs (Twenty Foot Equivalent) have been transferred (transhipped) within the BIMP-EAGA region.

4) ICT Sector

Beginning this year, the use and integration of A.I., including data centers, has been introduced through a pilot trial in the agricultural sector. It is hoped that the integration of A.I. / data centers will begin to be expanded across the industrial sectors in the country, particularly within the promoted sector / priority sectors. Recently, a groundbreaking ceremony for the establishment of the A.I Innovation Campus and the launch of The Pioneering AI-Powered Innovation Initiative were held. It is hoped that the use of A.I. in sectors such as food production will increase the productivity and competitiveness of farms in the country.

These are among the new strategies expected to drive the growth of the four main sectors that can be outlined.