BRUNEI
State of Brunei Darussalam
Negara Brunei Darussalam
GENERAL
- Area:
- 5,765 km2.
- Population:
- 268,000 (1992).
- Capital:
- Bandar Seri Begawan.
- Ethnic composition:
- Malay (including indigenous peoples, 73%), Chinese
(16%), others (12%).
- Major languages:
- Malay, English, Chinese.
- Major religions:
- Islam (official); Taoism, Christianity, Buddhism.
- History:
- The foundations of Brunei Darussalam were laid in the
beginning of the 15th century by the first sultan. In the
19th century the British were repeatedly ceded territory,
and in 1888 the country became a British protectorate. In
1971 home rule was restored, and in 1984 Brunei became
totally independent of Britain.
GOVERNMENT
- Type:
- Constitutional monarchy.
- Head of state:
- Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah (29th sultan).
- Legislature:
- The Legislative Council consists of 20 members, all
appointed by the sultan. It has been suspended since
February 1984.
- Executive:
- The sultan serves as his own prime minister; the foreign
minister is his brother, Prince Mohamed Bolkiah.
- Domestic politics:
- The family of the sultan dominates the political system
and holds the major cabinet posts. The political
situation is stable against a backdrop of rapid economic
growth. The work of strengthening the institutions of an
independent country has been progressing steadily. In
October 1992 the country staged a major celebration of
the 25th anniversary of the present sultan's accession,
which offered the opportunity for the country and the
monarchy to demonstrate their strength.
- Foreign policy:
- Immediately upon achieving independence, Brunei joined
the Commonwealth, ASEAN, and the Islamic Conference. It
has worked to develop close ties with the members of
these organizations and also with the United States, the
Republic of Korea, and Japan. It joined the United
Nations in September 1984.
- Military:
- Defense budget, $395.6 million (1992); regular armed
forces (volunteer) consist of 4,400 members on active
duty and 700 reserves; paramilitary forces consist of
2,300 Gurkha reserves and 1,750 members of the Royal
Brunei Police (The Military Balance 1993-94).
ECONOMY
- Major industries:
- Oil, natural gas.
- Nominal GDP:
- $4.0 billion (1991, provisional).
- Per capita GDP:
- $15,479 (1991, provisional).
- Real growth rate:
- 3.6% (1991, provisional).
- Inflation:
- 1.6% (1991, provisional).
- Unemployment:
- Not available.
- Trade: Exports:
- $2,615 million; imports: $1,142 million (1991,
estimated).
- Principal items traded:
- Exports: oil and natural gas (97% of total by value);
imports: machinery, transportation equipment,
manufactured goods, foods (1990).
- Principal trading partners:
- Exports: Japan (53%), Republic of Korea (10%), Britain
(9%); imports: Singapore (34%), Britain (23%), United
States (10%) (1991).
- Currency:
- Brunei dollar. B$1=66 yen (Apr. 14, 1994). The Brunei
dollar is set at par with the Singapore dollar.
- Economic conditions:
- Brunei currently enjoys economic stability and high
income levels thanks to its production of oil and natural
gas on a large scale. The country also has considerable
overseas assets.
ECONOMIC COOPERATION
- Japan's aid:
- The cumulative total of the ODA provided through 1992
was $26.0 million. During fiscal 1992 technical
cooperation amounting to 491 million yen was extended.
Japan is providing technical assistance primarily in the
area of human resources development. JICA and other
organizations have been dispatching experts and taking in
trainees. Technical assistance is also provided on a
project basis.
BILATERAL RELATIONS
- Political:
- Japan and Brunei have close relations backed up by
mutual visits by political leaders. There are no
outstanding political issues between the two countries.
- Trade:
- Exports to Japan: $1,357 million, featuring natural gas
and oil; imports from Japan: $158 million, featuring
machinery and equipment, metal products, and light
industrial goods (1992, customs-clearance basis).
- Investment:
- Japanese direct investment in Brunei amounted to zero in
fiscal 1990 and $350,000 in fiscal 1991; the cumulative
total through fiscal 1991 was $109 million.
- Cultural:
- Japan has invited young people from Brunei as
participants in a Southeast Asian youth invitation
program and has sent Japanese-language-teaching experts
to Brunei, among other activities. As of May 1992, there
were three Brunei students in Japan.
- Japanese residing in Brunei:
- 127 (Feb. 1994).
- Bruneians residing in Japan:
- 12 (June 1993; based on alien registration statistics).
- Visits by eminent persons:
- Japan to Brunei: Prime Minister Yasuhiro Nakasone (1983),
Labor Minister Takushi Hirai (1987), Foreign Minister
Hiroshi Mitsuzuka (1989), Prime Minister Toshiki Kaifu
(1991), Prime Minister Kiichi Miyazawa (1993),
International Trade and Industry Minister Yoshiro Mori
(1993);
Brunei to Japan: Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah (1988, unofficial), Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah and Finance Minister Prince Jefri Bolkiah (1989, Showa emperor's funeral), Law Minister Bahrin bin Abbas (1989), Foreign Minister Prince Mohamed Bolkiah (1989), Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah and Finance Minister Prince Jefri Bolkiah (1990, imperial accession ceremonies), Industry and Primary Resources Minister Abdul Rahmin (1993), Communications Minister Zakaria bin Haji Suleiman (1993). - Treaties and agreements:
- Arrangement Between the Government of Japan and the
Government of His Majesty the Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan
of Brunei Darussalam Concerning Reciprocal Waiving of
Visas and Visa Fees (1986).
(April 1994)
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