Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei: Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has arrived in Bandar Seri Begawan for a historic two-day visit to Brunei Darussalam, marking the first official visit by an Indian Prime Minister to the Southeast Asian country. This visit is a significant milestone, made possible through an invitation extended by Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah.
“Celebrating 40 years of diplomatic relations, I am eager to engage with Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah and other key members of the Bruneian Royal family to elevate our bilateral ties to new heights,” PM Modi said before his departure for Brunei Darussalam and Singapore.
The Prime Minister’s agenda includes high-level discussions aimed at expanding cooperation in diverse fields such as defense, trade, investment, energy, space exploration, healthcare, cultural exchange, and strengthening people-to-people connections.
Recently, Indian External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar and Brunei’s Foreign Minister Erywan Pehin Yusof unveiled a commemorative logo celebrating four decades of diplomatic relations between the two nations at the ASEAN meetings in Vientiane.
PM Modi and Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah first met during the 25th ASEAN Summit in Nay Pyi Taw in November 2014, with subsequent meetings at the 2017 East Asia Summit in Manila. The Sultan and other ASEAN leaders also visited India in January 2018 for the ASEAN-India Commemorative Summit and were guests at India’s Republic Day celebrations.
Former Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh visited Brunei in 2013 to attend the 11th ASEAN-India Summit and the 8th East Asia Summit.
Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah, who has been in power since August 1968, made his initial state visit to India in September 1992 and returned for a second visit in May 2008.
According to the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), Brunei Darussalam has been a supportive ally of India’s ‘Look East’ and ‘Act East’ policies, which focus on enhancing relations with ASEAN. “Brunei plays a crucial role in our Act East Policy and Indo-Pacific strategy. As we mark ten years of this policy, the significance of this visit is underscored. Brunei’s role as our ASEAN country coordinator from 2012 to 2015 was pivotal in advancing our regional engagement,” noted Jaideep Mazumdar, MEA Secretary (East).
Indian naval and coast guard ships have made regular visits to Brunei, and Indian defense companies such as Bharat Electronics Ltd and MKU Limited participated in Brunei’s Defense Industry Exposition in June 2024. During the event, Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah and Crown Prince Al-Muhtadee Billah visited Indian exhibits and commended their participation.
Currently, about 14,500 Indians reside in Brunei Darussalam, contributing significantly to the country’s population of approximately 450,500. Many of these expatriates work in various sectors, including oil and gas, construction, retail, and education.
Following his Brunei visit, PM Modi will travel to Singapore to discuss increased collaboration in digital technology, skill development, sustainability, healthcare, connectivity, and advanced manufacturing.
In his pre-departure statement, PM Modi expressed anticipation for meetings with 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 deepening our Strategic Partnership with Singapore, particularly in advanced manufacturing, digitalization, and sustainable development. Our nations are key partners in the Act East Policy and the Indo-Pacific Vision. I am confident that these visits will enhance our ties with Brunei, Singapore, and the wider ASEAN region,” PM Modi commented.
In recent developments, Indian ministers, including External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal, and Railways Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, attended the second India-Singapore Ministerial Roundtable (ISMR) in Singapore. Singapore Prime Minister Lawrence Wong noted the progress since their last meeting and highlighted new cooperative efforts in advanced manufacturing and connectivity.