Brunei Darussalam is a Malay Muslim monarchy governed by His Majesty, Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu’izzaddin Waddaulah, Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam.

The country, located on the North-West of the island of Borneo, is one of the oldest kingdoms in the South East Asian region. Brunei Darussalam has a recorded history that spans 600 years.

The Sultanate, which has a land mass of 5,769 sq. km, has four districts: Brunei-Muara, Tutong, Belait and Temburong. The capital, Bandar Seri Begawan, is located along the Brunei River in the Brunei-Muara district.

Brunei Darussalam has a population of approximately 365,000 people, two thirds of whom are Malays. The remaining population comprises Chinese, other indigenous people and expatriates. The country’s national language is Malay. English, Chinese and other languages are also used in business sectors.

The economy
The economy has been dominated by the oil and liquefied natural gas industries and government expenditure. Highly qualified local and expatriate professionals provide professional services in banking, accounting, legal and other services.

Brunei has steadily increased its integration into the world economy and has become a prominent player by serving as chairman for the 2000 APEC (Asian Pacific Economic Cooperation) forum. Plans for the future include upgrading the labour force, reducing unemployment, strengthening the banking and tourism sectors and in general, further widening the economic base beyond oil and gas.

The infrastructure
Brunei Darussalam has a well-developed infrastructure that is ready to cater to the needs of the country’s development initiatives.

The Brunei International Airport has been designed to manage high passenger and cargo traffic. The country’s 2,000-kilometre modern and extensive road network serve the entire country.

The country has two main ports, Muara and Kuala Belait, which offer direct shipping to and from numerous destinations.