'Maritime growth key to Brunei’s economic future'

'Maritime growth key to Brunei’s economic future'

BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN – Growth of Brunei’s maritime sector will be crucial to the country’s economic competitiveness in the coming years, the Minister of Transport and Infocommunications said on Thursday. Speaking at the launch of Brunei Darussalam Maritime Week 2026, Dato Mohd Riza DP Hj Mohd Yunos said maritime development is “not simply a sectoral priority”, but will be fundamental to economic growth and resilience. “The sea has always been the sultanate’s gateway to trade, food security, energy and international connectivity. Today, that gateway is more important than ever,” he said. Brunei has made significant investments in maritime infrastructure, including the expansion of Muara Port, which is slated for completion in the third quarter of 2027. Once completed, the project will more than double the port’s annual container handling capacity from 220,000 TEU to 500,000 TEU annually. The project will also include a 3.26-hectare Port Trade Zone — conceived as a fully-fledged free-trade zone to streamline importing, production, repackaging, and exporting. However, the minister emphasised that infrastructure alone will not generate economic value, but that true value comes from greater cargo volumes, more reliable shipping services, efficient regulation, and competitive maritime businesses. “Our objective is therefore clear: to translate infrastructure […]