Brunei Financial News

Act East Policy is the reflection of PM Narendra Modi’s foreign policy marked by dynamism and action. With the changing dynamics of the world, PM Modi in 2014, introduced a new vigour in India’s foreign policy. He transformed the Look East Policywith a more dynamic Act East Policy (AEP). Introduced in 1992, the Look East policy focused largely on economic ties with the Southeast Asia region. This shift was not just symbolic but marked a significant strategic approach that emphasized deeper diplomatic engagement, stronger trade partnerships, enhanced security cooperation, and cultural exchanges with Southeast Asia and the broader Indo-Pacific region. The Act East Policy placed India as an active stakeholder in regional affairs. Over the past 10 years, the Act East Policy has positioned India as an active and influential player in Southeast Asia. The Indian PM’s frequent engagements, high-profile summits, and strategic partnerships have strengthened India's presence in the Indo-Pacific, making India not just a participant but a leader in regional affairs. Modi has himself visited SE Asia multiple times. This include trips to Singapore (2015, 2018, 2024), which have strengthened economic and fintech collaboration, and visits to Indonesia (2018, 2022, 2023), where India expanded its maritime security cooperation.

The rationale, as given by White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt, was that US sanctions already prohibit «meaningful trade» with these nations, so further tariffs were not needed, according to Axios. But although this argument may make sense, the US continues to trade more with Russia than with nations such as Mauritius or Brunei, which did find themselves on Trump's tariff list, reported Axios.

Subscribe to enjoy similar stories. Kissht, an online lending platform, is preparing to tap the capital markets with an initial public offering and has hired investment bankers for the process, two people aware of the development told Mint. The company hired ICICI Securities, UBS Securities India Private Limited and Motilal Oswal Investment Banking and is finalising a fourth banker, one person said.

The Huizhou 19-6 oilfield lies about 170 kilometres (100 miles) from Shenzhen in south China's Guangdong Province, Beijing's Xinhua news agency said. Test drilling has yielded a daily production of 413 barrels of crude oil and 68,000 cubic meters of natural gas, the CNOOC said. The state-owned oil giant's CEO, Zhou Xinhuai, hailed «successive breakthroughs in oil and gas exploration in the eastern waters of the South China Sea». CNOOC «has discovered 100-million-ton oilfields for two consecutive years, which creates a new growth pole for the continuous growth in offshore oil and gas production,» he added.

Trump administration will pursue a relationship with China that advances US interests and puts the American people first, Secretary of State Marco Rubio told his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi. Rubio on Friday spoke today with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang, the first call between the two diplomats since President Donald Trump's administration took office on January 20.

In a heated Senate confirmation hearing for Pete Hegseth, Sen. Tammy Duckworth grilled the proposed defense secretary over the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, asking him if he could name one member and how many countries were in the bloc

free trade agreement in goods in February, the commerce and industry ministry said Saturday, adding that the fourth round of the negotiations was concluded here this month.

Brunei Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah hosted Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the world's largest residential palace during the latter's bilateral visit to the country. PM Modi became the first Indian Prime Minister to travel to the Southeast Asian nation on a bilateral visit. The two-day visit aimed to strengthen India's ties with Brunei and commemorated 40 years of diplomatic relations between the two countries. The two leaders took stock of bilateral relations including in areas of defence, trade & investment, energy, space technology, health and pharmaceuticals, capacity building, culture and people-to-people ties. They also exchanged views on regional and global issues of mutual interest. ALSO READ: World's richest monarch is wealthier than King Charles. Check his net worth, source of income

Supply Chain Council, set up under an agreement of the 14-member IPEF, will be held in December, the commerce ministry said on Monday. The IPEF (Indo-Pacific Economic Framework for Prosperity) bloc was launched jointly by the US and other partner countries of the Indo-Pacific region on May 23, 2022, in Tokyo. Together, they account for 40 per cent of the world's economic output and 28 per cent of trade.

India, were able to protect their key interests, think tank GTRI said on Sunday. The 14-member IPEF bloc was launched jointly by the US and other partner countries of the Indo-Pacific region on May 23, 2022, in Tokyo. Together, they account for 40 per cent of the world's economic output and 28 per cent of trade. The framework is structured around four pillars relating to trade, supply chains, clean economy and fair economy. India has joined all the pillars except the trade. Australia, Brunei Darussalam, Fiji, India, Indonesia, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, New Zealand, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, the US, and Vietnam are members of the bloc.

Singapore in September 2024 was his second official visit to Singapore, the first being in 2016. Globally, there have been significant changes between 2016 and 2024, but this visit symbolised an enduring continuity in relations between India and Singapore over the last few decades. This visit was significant for the key reasons.

Brunei on Tuesday took a trip of the iconic Omar Ali Saifuddien Mosque in capital Bandar Seri Begawan boosting the soft power quotient of the growing partnership in the Indo-Pacific region. The Prime Minister was received by Brunei's Minister of Religious Affairs Pehin Dato Ustaz Haji Awang Badaruddin. Brunei's Minister of Health Dato Dr. Haji Mohammad Isham was also in attendance. A gathering of Indian community members were also present to greet the Prime Minister. The mosque is named after Omar Ali Saifuddien III, the 28th Sultan of Brunei (father of the current Sultan, who also initiated its construction), and was completed in 1958. Earlier upon his arrival, PM Modi inaugurated the new Chancery premises of the High Commission of India in Brunei.

Modi embarked on a visit to Brunei and Singapore, the Congress took a swipe at him on Tuesday, asking when will «our frequent flyer» make a 'humanitarian' visit to the troubled state of Manipur. Prime Minister Modi is visiting Brunei on September 3-4 at the invitation of Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah to further strengthen bilateral cooperation in all existing sectors. He is slated to visit Singapore on September 4-5 at the invitation of his Singaporean counterpart Lawrence Wong.

Indian High Commissioner to Brunei, Alok Amitabh Dimri termed Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to the nation «historic» and said the two nations have been civilizational neighbours. PM Modi embarked on the visit to Brunei on Tuesday. Notably, this is the first visit by an Indian PM to the nation. He is expected to hold high-level engagements with Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah and other members of the Royal Family.

Singapore's DBS Group has appointed Tan Su Shan, currently its institutional banking group head, as CEO from March, replacing Piyush Gupta, who has led Southeast Asia's biggest bank for 14 years. She will be the bank's first female chief executive and also the first to be appointed from within the ranks of the bank.

Jaishankar on Sunday met US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and held a wide-ranging discussion on bilateral ties and regional and global issues. The two leaders met on the sidelines of the Quad Foreign Ministers' meeting in Tokyo.

India on Friday said it opposes unilateral actions seeking to change the status quo by force in South China Sea amid concerns over China's escalatory moves against the Philippines' maritime operations in the region. Tensions between China and the Philippines escalated following an incident of violent clash between their maritime security personnel few days back in the South China Sea. «We have always emphasised on adherence to international law, respect for the rules-based order, and resolution of disputes in a peaceful manner,» external affairs ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said. «Other than that, we also believe that there should not be any incident or approach that destabilises the region,» he said.

Chinese Premier Li Qiang is set to talk with Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim with the two countries due to ink new cooperation pacts on digital economy and green development as they mark 50 years of diplomatic relations

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences announced a $500 million fundraising campaign Friday to ensure long-term, global support for its Oscar prizes, museum, educational programming and screenings in view of its 100th anniversary in 2028

pharmaceuticals exports increased 9.67 per cent year-on-year to USD 27.9 billion in 2023-24, even as the total exports dipped by 3 per cent in the last fiscal. According to the commerce ministry data, pharma exports in March grew by 12.73 per cent to USD 2.8 billion. In 2022-23, the exports stood at USD 25.4 billion. The top five export markets, for the sector during the last fiscal, are the US, the UK, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, South Africa and Brazil.

Southest Asian finance ministers and central bank governors have ended meetings in the Laotian city of Luang Prabang citing progress in building stronger regional institutions, but also noting serious challenges due to geopolitical tensions and volatil...