Answer for Oral Question PL276

QUESTION

Yang Berhormat Pehin Orang Kaya Indera Pahlawan Dato Seri Setia Awang Haji Suyoi bin Haji Osman

YANG BERHORMAT PEHIN ORANG KAYA INDERA PAHLAWAN DATO SERI SETIA HAJI AWANG SUYOI BIN HAJI OSMAN requested the MENTERI EKONOMI, PERDAGANGAN DAN INDUSTRI to state information regarding the new restructuring under the responsibility of the Coordinating Minister and the MENTERI EKONOMI, PERDAGANGAN DAN INDUSTRI, as well as the initial approach taken to unify and ensure that the economy, trade and industry move simultaneously and in the same direction, and that the primary resources and tourism sectors, which were previously identified as important sectors in progressing towards Wawasan 2035, continue to receive due emphasis.

ANSWER

Yang Berhormat Menteri Ekonomi, Perdagangan dan Industri

As decreed by KDYMM during the royal address in conjunction with the reshuffle and appointment of the new Cabinet Ministers and Deputy Ministers in 2026, the portfolio of the Ministry of Primary Resources and Tourism was restructured and renamed the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry. This restructuring is intended to accelerate the development of priority sectors and strengthen diversification efforts, in order to ensure sustainable economic growth and the creation of meaningful employment opportunities.

The establishment of this Ministry aims to strengthen the coordination of economic policies with implementation at the trade, industrial and productive-sector development levels. Through this new structure, functions relating to economic policy and planning, trade, industrial development and the business ecosystem, as well as the primary resources and tourism sectors, are placed within a more integrated ministerial framework.

At the leadership level, the main portfolios are organised according to three complementary areas, namely:

1. Economic Policies - to coordinate economic diversification efforts with the ministries entrusted to lead the priority sectors.

2. Economy and Trade - to formulate national economic strategies, monitor economic performance, and expand international trade and market access to support sustainable economic growth; and

3. Industry – namely:

   • Accelerating the development of priority sectors, increasing the output of the primary resources and tourism industries, and strengthening diversification efforts, in order to ensure sustainable economic growth and the creation of meaningful employment opportunities;
   • Developing existing industries and exploring new industries, including the food industry to ensure Food Security, as well as the tourism industry, through: i. Investment participation from within and outside the country (FDI); and ii. Emphasis on the development and contribution of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs).

This structure does not mean that each function will operate separately. On the contrary, the entire portfolio will be guided by the same economic priorities, including sustainable growth, increased productivity, the strengthening of local enterprises, the attraction of quality investment, increased exports and the creation of high-value employment.

At the same time, the role of the Coordinating Minister is to strengthen the alignment of economic policies that cut across ministries. This is important because issues such as manpower, land, infrastructure, financing, regulations, investment and the ease of doing business do not fall under the jurisdiction of one ministry alone. Therefore, the coordination role is not intended to assume the responsibilities of other agencies, but to ensure that government policies and actions move towards the same national economic objectives.

As decreed by Kebawah Duli Yang Maha Mulia, the Coordinating Ministers shall serve as the principal leaders in resolving cross-ministerial or cross-cutting issues involving the sectors under their respective jurisdictions. They are responsible for ensuring that implementation gaps between ministries are not allowed to widen.

In upholding the decree of Kebawah Duli Yang Maha Mulia, a coordination platform for economic policy matters has been established at the ministerial level to further facilitate the monitoring of government policies and actions, enabling them to proceed more effectively and efficiently.

With regard to the primary resources and tourism sectors, I wish to emphasise that these sectors will continue to receive due attention. Agriculture and agrifood, fisheries, forestry and tourism remain important in efforts to diversify the economy, strengthen food security, develop local enterprises, increase exports and create employment opportunities.

With the establishment of this Ministry, these sectors will be positioned more closely within the overall economic, trade and industrial ecosystem. For example, the development of the agricultural sector will not be viewed solely from the perspective of increasing production, but also in terms of investment, the use of technology, downstream processing, market access and exports. Similarly, tourism development will continue to be linked to connectivity, market promotion, product development, investment and the participation of local enterprises.

The roadmaps and programmes identified for these sectors will continue to be implemented and realigned according to the Ministry’s priorities. Emphasis will be placed on targets that deliver tangible economic outcomes, including increased contributions to the Gross Domestic Product, productivity, exports, employment opportunities and the participation of local enterprises.

In conclusion, this restructuring is not merely a change to the organisational chart. Its primary objective is to establish a clearer policy and implementation chain, from economic planning to investment, production, trade and exports, while ensuring that the primary resources and tourism sectors continue to grow as important drivers towards realising Wawasan Brunei 2035.