Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei: Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi landed in Bandar Seri Begawan this afternoon to kick off a groundbreaking two-day visit to Brunei Darussalam. This historic trip marks the first official visit by an Indian Prime Minister to the Southeast Asian country, extended by an invitation from Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah.
“As we commemorate four decades of diplomatic ties, I eagerly anticipate engaging with His Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah and other distinguished members of the Bruneian Royal family to elevate our historic relationship to new dimensions,” PM Modi stated before embarking on his visit to Brunei Darussalam and Singapore.
The Prime Minister’s agenda includes strategic discussions aimed at enhancing cooperation across various sectors such as defense, trade, investment, energy, space technology, health, cultural exchange, and people-to-people connections.
In a recent development, Indian External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar and Bruneian Foreign Minister Erywan Pehin Yusof launched a logo commemorating 40 years of diplomatic relations between India and Brunei during the ASEAN meetings in Vientiane last month.
The initial meeting between Prime Minister Modi and Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah took place during the 25th ASEAN Summit in Nay Pyi Taw in November 2014, with another encounter during the 2017 East Asia Summit in Manila. In January 2018, the Sultan and other ASEAN leaders visited India for the ASEAN-India Commemorative Summit and attended India’s 69th Republic Day celebrations.
Former Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had previously visited Brunei in 2013 for the 11th ASEAN-India Summit and the 8th East Asia Summit.
Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah, who has been the Sultan of Brunei since August 1968, first visited India in September 1992 and made a second visit in May 2008.
The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) highlighted that Brunei Darussalam has consistently supported India’s ‘Look East’ and ‘Act East’ policies, which aim to strengthen ties with ASEAN. “Brunei remains a crucial partner for India’s Act East Policy and our vision for the Indo-Pacific. As we celebrate a decade of the ‘Act East’ Policy this year, this visit gains additional importance. Brunei’s role as our country coordinator in ASEAN from 2012 to 2015 was instrumental in deepening our engagement with the region,” said Jaideep Mazumdar, MEA Secretary (East).
Indian naval and coast guard vessels have frequently visited Brunei, and Indian defense firms, including Bharat Electronics Ltd and MKU Limited, participated in Brunei’s Defence Industry Exposition in June 2024. During the expo, Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah and Crown Prince Al-Muhtadee Billah visited Indian stalls and expressed appreciation for the participation.
Currently, approximately 14,500 Indians live in Brunei Darussalam, making up a significant portion of the 450,500-strong population. Many Indian expatriates work in sectors such as oil and gas, construction, retail, and education.
Following his visit to Brunei, PM Modi will proceed to Singapore, where enhanced cooperation in digital technology, skill development, sustainability, healthcare, connectivity, and advanced manufacturing will be explored.
In his departure statement, PM Modi expressed his eagerness to meet Singaporean leaders, including President Tharman Shanmugaratnam, Prime Minister Lawrence Wong, Senior Minister Lee Hsien Loong, and Emeritus Senior Minister Goh Chok Tong. “I look forward to discussions that will deepen our Strategic Partnership with Singapore, particularly in advanced manufacturing, digitalization, and sustainable development. Our countries are vital partners in the Act East Policy and the Indo-Pacific Vision. I am confident that these visits will further strengthen our relations with Brunei, Singapore, and the broader ASEAN region,” PM Modi noted.
Recently, Indian ministers, including External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal, and Railways Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, participated in the second India-Singapore Ministerial Roundtable (ISMR) in Singapore. Singapore Prime Minister Lawrence Wong expressed satisfaction with the progress since their last meeting and emphasized new cooperative initiatives in advanced manufacturing and connectivity.
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