The Daily Brunei Resources

Sultanate has great potential to develop Islamic finance, says deputy minister on: April 26, 2017 | Azlan Othman | IT IS Brunei Darussalam’s aspirations to further develop its capabilities in the arena of Islamic finance and realise its vision of becoming a renowned hub for Islamic finance, said Dato Paduka Dr Awang Haji Mohd Amin Liew bin Abdullah, the Deputy Minister of Finance, yesterday. He was delivering the keynote address at the opening of the Islamic Development Bank (IDB)’s ‘Sukuk (Islamic bonds) Model Law’ workshop at The Empire Hotel & Country Club in Jerudong. The workshop is an initiative of the IDB and the Islamic Research and Training Institute (IRTI), with the goal of providing a platform for an exchange of views that could assist in the enabling of a robust legal framework that supports the issuance, regulation and monitoring of Sukuk. “These aspirations are being lauded by His Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu’izzaddin Waddaulah ibni Al-Marhum Su

Vendors thrilled over royal visit on: April 25, 2017 | Abdul Hakiim Yakof | VENDORS were yesterday thrilled to receive His Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu’izzaddin Waddaulah ibni Al-Marhum Sultan Haji Omar ‘Ali Saifuddien Sa’adul Khairi Waddien, Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam and other members of the royal family at the ongoing Local Products and Halal Products Bazaar at the International Convention Centre (ICC) in Berakas. Haji Junggal bin Jumat, a representative and head of MPK Kampong Putat, was delighted that the monarch took the time to mingle with the vendors and enquire about their products, adding that he felt great pride at being able to show His Majesty that he is able to make a living by selling raw bee honey and handicraft – despite being a senior citizen. “It is very meaningful when His Majesty shows appreciation for us, the small entrepreneurs, and in what we do,” he said. Nur Haziyah binti Abdul Rahman, the treasurer and r

Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev Visa-free entry for Bruneians in Russian Far East on: April 19, 2017 | Hakim Hayat | BRUNEI citizens can visit the Russian Far East without visas, the Russian Prime Minister said. A list of 18 countries including Brunei Darussalam has been approved whose citizens can obtain electronic single entry business, tourist or humanitarian visas when entering the Russian Federation through checkpoints at the free port of Vladivostok, Dmitry Medvedev announced on Monday. Apart from Brunei, the list includes Algeria, Bahrain, India, Qatar, People’s Republic of China, Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, Kuwait, Morocco, Mexico, United Arab Emirates, Oman, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Tunisia, Turkey and Japan. According to the prime minister, the move is expected to facilitate trade and investment into the area and enhance bilateral ties. “This initiative is aimed at enhancing the investment appeal of the region and expanding business ties by fac

Several transfers and promotions were announced tonight (18 April 2017). The new list of Permanent Secretaries and Deputies are as follows: +++++ PERMANENT SECRETARIES Prime Minister's Office (PMO) Dato Paduka Haji Jamain bin Haji Julaihi (Energy) Haji Hamzah bin Haji Sulaiman (Economy and Finance) Dato Paduka Haji Joanda HA Rashid (Law and Welfare) Pengiran Datin Shazainah bte Pg Dato Paduka Shariffudin (International)* Md Riza bin Dato Paduka Hj Md Yunos (Media and Cabinet) Haji Md Azmi bin Haji Hanifah (Industry) Haji Nazmi bin Haji Mohammad (Corporate Affairs and Civil Service) Ministry of Defence (MINDEF) Capt (Rtd) Abdul Rahman bin Begawan Mudim Dato Paduka Haji Bakar Ministry of Finance (MOF) Ahmaddin bin Haji Abd Rahman (International and Management) Norliah bte Kula (Performance)* Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MOFAT) Dato Paduka Lim Jock Hoi Datin Tan Bee Yong* Dato Paduka Haji Matnor bin Haji Jeludin Sheikh Haji Fadilah bin Sheikh Haji A

Berkunjung ke rumah-rumah dengan menaiki perahu atau ‘gubang’ pada tahun 1960. Ibu bapa mereka merakamkan suasana itu dengan bergambar ramai untuk dijadikan sebagai kenangan mereka di masa hadapan. Kelihatan kanak-kanak pada zaman itu sedang berjalan di atas jambatan kayu yang sudah siap dibina pada tahun 1960an dan seorang kanak-kanak sedang mengayuh perahunya. Nostalgia kanak-kanak di zaman dahulu Apr 15, 2017 Oleh Haji Mohd Daud Abdul Rahman KANAK-KANAK di Kampong Ayer pada zaman dahulu sudah pandai berenang sejak kecil lagi dan mula mengayuh perahu untuk mengambil air apabila disuruh oleh ibu bapa mereka. Mereka selalunya mengayuh bersama kawan-kawan seangkatan mereka dengan menggunakan perahu semasa air pasang. Pada zaman itu kanak-kanak tidak suka membantah dan mahu melakukan apa saja yang diarahkan oleh orang tua mereka dengan mengayuh perahu hingga ke kawasan tambing untuk membeli ikan segar di kedai dengan tidak mengira penat lelah. Perahu adalah satu alat kemuda

Brunei fighting tooth and nail to protect forest on: April 15, 2017 DEER is the prime target of hunters while wood is the favourite of encroachers of Brunei forests that are rich in flora and fauna. However, their movements have been effectively restricted with the ever-alert forest officials thwarting every attempt to intrude into the wild with high-precision anti-poaching measures. The country incurred losses amounting to $95,000 last year due to forest poaching. Wood stealing constituted the biggest loss totalling $44,000 and this includes the pricey agarwood worth $37,000 and mangrove products worth $13,000. According to Forestry Officer at the Development and Forestry Industry Management Reni bin Haji Yahya, Forestry Department officers, Ranger Police and other government agencies conducted 174 forest patrols last year and 24 operations detected illicit activities in the Brunei forests. Briefing agricultural and forestry entrepreneurs on Forestry Act Chapter 46 of the Laws of Br

BSP finds oil in Lumut on: April 13, 2017 | Danial Norjidi | BRUNEI Shell Petroleum Company Sdn Bhd (BSP) has achieved an exciting new success in exploration as it made its first significant onshore discovery in 37 years with its Layang-Layang Well in the Lumut area. The achievement was announced in a joint press statement yesterday by BSP and the Energy and Industry Department at the Prime Minister’s Office (EIDPMO). The Layang-Layang oil and gas discovery is the first of its kind as it confirms a new geological concept called a Shale diapir trap which was interpreted from seismic data and Brunei field outcrop studies. A Shale diapir is a large cavity injected with Shale under high subsurface pressure, and had never previously been considered as a valid trap mechanism for BSP until now. According to the statement, what makes this discovery particularly remarkable is the application of new, advanced seismic processing technology to existing older data. This new technolo

Growth on horizon on: April 12, 2017 RIDING on the back of an Asian recovery and its own ambitious diversification strides, Brunei is poised to register an economic turnaround in the next few years if figures forecast by prominent global financial institutions are anything to go by. The World Bank, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and more recently the Asian Development Bank (ADB) have attributed the Sultanate’s rebound, though not massive compared to some of its Asian counterparts, to a slew of farsighted measures currently being implemented by the government. At the core of the government’s diversification mission is opening up the economy to foreign direct investment (FDI) by slashing the corporate income tax rate to 18.5 per cent with tax exemptions for pioneer industries, allowing 100 per cent foreign ownership in domestic companies, competitively pricing land and utilities in industrial parks and establishing a special office in the Brunei Economic Development Board to fas

Economy set to rebound on: April 11, 2017 | Azlan Othman | AFTER several years of declining gross domestic product (GDP), falling consumer prices and widening fiscal deficits, Brunei Darussalam is poised for a mild turnaround, the Asian Development Bank (ADB) said. Large construction projects and recovering oil and gas production and prices are expected to lift GDP and inflation into positive territory and narrow the fiscal gap. Sustainable long-term growth demands substantial reforms to the business environment to attract foreign investors to new industries, the bank said in its Asia Development Outlook (ADO) 2017 for Brunei Darussalam published recently. A projected modest increase in hydrocarbon exports for higher prices should restore GDP growth this year and next. Several large construction projects will provide additional impetus if they proceed as planned. GDP is forecast to grow by one per cent in 2017, quickening to 2.5 per cent in 2018. Inflation is forecast to be

TOTAL Processing Plant in Lumut, Brunei Darussalam Perkongsian aktiviti Total di Lumut Apr 8, 2017 BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN, 7 April – Total E&P Borneo B.V., hari ini, telah mengadakan Majlis Penglibatan Komuniti dan Pihak Berkepentingan bersama masyarakat Lumut yang berlangsung di Kelab Rekreasi Liang Lumut. Antara yang hadir termasuk para perwakilan daripada jiran-jiran perindustrian Brunei LNG Sdn Bhd, Syarikat Brunei Methanol Sdn Bhd (BMC) dan Syarikat Minyak Brunei Shell Sdn Bhd (BSP), agensi-agensi kerajaan yang termasuk pegawai pemerintah Batalion Ketiga Angkatan Bersenjata Diraja Brunei, perwakilan daripada Balai Bomba Sungai Liang dan Pasukan Polis Diraja Brunei, ketua Kampung Lumut serta penduduk dari kawasan Sungai Liang dan Lumut. Objektif majlis itu adalah untuk mengongsikan dan memberikan kemas kini mengenai aktiviti-aktiviti dan operasi Total di Lumut terutamanya di loji pemprosesannya. Antara kandungan taklimat termasuk kesedaran keselamatan bagi komuniti mengenai la

His Majesty joins first Friday prayer at Kg Sengkarai mosque on: April 08, 2017 | Azaraimy HH | HIS Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu’izzaddin Waddaulah ibni Al-Marhum Sultan Haji Omar ‘Ali Saifuddien Sa’adul Khairi Waddien, Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam joined residents of Kampong Sengkarai and its surrounding areas for the first Friday prayer at the newly-built Pengiran Anak Haji Mohamed Alam Mosque in Kampong Sengkarai. Upon arrival, the monarch was received by Minister of Religious Affairs Pehin Udana Khatib Dato Paduka Seri Setia Ustaz Haji Awang Badaruddin bin Pengarah Dato Paduka Haji Awang Othman and State Mufti Pehin Datu Seri Maharaja Dato Paduka Seri Setia (Dr) Ustaz Haji Awang Abdul Aziz bin Juned. His Majesty was accompanied by His Royal Highness Prince Haji Al-Muhtadee Billah, the Crown Prince and Senior Minister at the Prime Minister’s Office, His Royal Highness Prince ‘Abdul Malik and Yang Amat Mulia Pengiran Maharaja Setia Laila Di

Biotech stimulus for diversification effort on: April 04, 2017 | Wani Roslan | SENGENICS, a leading genomics and proteomics-based research and diagnostics company in the region, yesterday launched a world-class, commercially driven facility in Brunei Darussalam. Opened at the Universiti Brunei Darussalam (UBD)’s Integrated Science building, the state-of-the art Sengenics Immunome Production Facility is expected to give a fresh momentum to the economic diversification efforts of the country and intensify the development of cutting-edge knowledge industry through innovation and technology. The new facility will offer protein cloning and expression services using the patented BCCP (biotin carboxyl carrier protein) folding marker technology from Sengenics. According to Sengenics Chief Executive Officer Dr Arif Anwar, in the last six months alone, Sengenics has secured commercial projects from five out of the top 10 pharmaceutical companies in the world. The new set-up will also p

Seven papers presented at Islamic Governance symposium on: April 02, 2017 THE Institute of Policy Studies (IPS), Universiti Brunei Da-russalam (UBD) held its Third Annual Symposium on Islamic governance at the Senate Room, Chancellor Hall, UBD yesterday. The event followed a series of symposia held over the past two years that focused specifically on the emerging discipline and practice of Islamic governance and its relationships with policy, government, and society. With the theme ‘Integrating Organisational Functions within an Islamic System of Governance’, the one-day symposium included discussions on how organisations, consisting of individuals, can function as a cohesive collective to create an environment that is conducive for the worship of Allah the Almighty. The symposium also highlighted four principal components of Islamic governance: the theological, the juristic, its values and the cultural context, where it is against these backgrounds that different possible