Contact details

Austrade offices

The Australian Trade Commission (Austrade) is the Federal Government agency that helps Australian companies win overseas business for their products and services by reducing the time, cost and risk involved in selecting, entering and developing international markets.

Austrade offers practical advice, market intelligence and ongoing support (including financial) to Australian businesses looking to develop international markets. Austrade also provides advice and guidance on overseas investment and joint venture opportunities, and helps put Australian businesses in contact with potential overseas investors.

See map below for Austrade office locations for this country. Please note that the markers are a guide only. A full list of Austrade offices (in alphabetical order of country) is also available.

For further information please contact Austrade on 13 28 78 or email info@austrade.gov.au

Australian Embassy

Australian High Commission
Level 6, DAR Takaful IBB Utama
Jalan Pemancha
Bandar Seri Begawan BS8711
Brunei Darussalam
Tel: +673 2 222 9435
Fax: +673 2 222 1652
Web: www.bruneidarussalam.embassy.gov.au

Business hours:
8.00am-5.00pm, Monday to Thursday
8.00am-1.00pm, Friday

Current business situation

The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) provides advice for business travellers and tourists going to Brunei. This is regularly updated, and should be checked before planning travel.

Country overview

Country facts

Capital city:	Bandar Seri Begawan
Surface area:	6000 sq km
Population:	370,000
Official language(s):	Malay
Government:	Constitutional sultanate
Head of State & Government:	HM Paduka Seri Baginda Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu'izzaddin Waddaulah ibni Al-Marhum Sultan Haji Omar 'Ali Saifuddien Sa'adul Khairi Waddien
Australian exports to Brunei:	A$26 million
Australian imports from Brunei:	A$1,073 million
Brunei's principal export destinations:	Japan, Indonesia, Republic of Korea
Brunei's principal import sources:	Malaysia, Singapore, Japan

(Source: Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade - Country economic fact sheet)

Economic climate

Brunei's economy is heavily dependent on revenue from oil and gas. Although prospects for the growth of oil and gas exports are good, the Bruneian economy is vulnerable to movements in global oil prices.

Key economic indicators and statistics for 2006:

GDP - US$11.6 billion
GDP per capita - US$30,625
Real GDP growth - 5.1 per cent
Inflation - 0.2 per cent

Brunei's domestic economy was affected in mid-1998 by the collapse of the Amedeo Group of Companies – Brunei's premier development group under the Brunei Investment Agency and the largest employer outside the government.

Brunei's merchandise economy is made up of small-scale manufactures in sectors such as: textiles, food products, creameries and beverages, furniture and primary production, for example, forestry, agriculture and fishing.

Political climate

The Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan Negara Brunei Darussalam, His Majesty Paduka Seri Baginda Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu'izzaddin Waddaulah, is the Prime Minister, the Minister of Defence and the Minister of Finance. The Sultan is the absolute monarch and patriarch of the people. There are three policy councils who all advise the Prime Minister:

• The Religious Council
• The Privy Council
• The Council of Cabinet Ministers

The Parti Perpaduan Kebangsaan Brunei (Brunei National Solidarity Party, PPKB) is currently the only registered political party in Brunei and plays a minimal role in political affairs.

Trade relations and statistics

Trade and investment is an important focus of Australia’s bilateral relationship with Brunei. Continued development in two-way trade in sectors such as livestock, specialised machinery and equipment and crude petroleum imports is also expected.

The focus of Bruneian investment is largely in the Northern Territory, where the Bruneian government owns four cattle stations, has equity in two abattoirs, and has a controlling interest in a cattle exporting company.

Brunei is one of four participants in the Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines – East ASEAN Growth Area (BIMP-EAGA). The objective of BIMP-EAGA is to secure enhanced growth and development in this sub-region of ASEAN.

Major Australian exports to Brunei (2005-06):

• Live animals - A$4 million
• Meat (excluding bovine) - A$3 million
• Vegetables - A$2 million
• Milk and cream - A$1 million

Major Australian imports from Brunei (2005-06):

• Crude petroleum - A$1,073 million

(Source: Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade - Country economic fact sheet)

Doing business

Business opportunities

The Opportunities Online website may be a useful addition to your information sources. The database established by Austrade aims to deliver international sales leads ('export opportunities'), including tenders, generated by our overseas network to Australian businesses.
 

Registering is simple and once this is done you will have the option of accessing a weekly newsletter featuring the most recent opportunities uploaded onto the system in industry sectors of interest to you. Another feature is the ability to view, and also print, the complete page of opportunity details.
 

For general inquiries concerning Austrade’s services, please contact Austrade Direct on 13 28 78.

Business etiquette

Business hours in Brunei:

• Government offices are open between 7.45am-12.15pm and 1.30pm-4.30pm, Monday to Thursday and Saturday
• Banks are open between 9.00am-3.00pm, Monday to Friday and 9.00am-11.00am, Saturday
• Commercial businesses are open between 8.00am-noon and 1.15pm-5.00pm, Monday to Friday
• Shops are open between 7.30am-8.00pm/9.00pm, Monday to Saturday

Business practices:

• Avoid visiting Brunei around Hari Raya (at the end of the Muslim fasting month) or Chinese New Year. These holidays fall on a different month every year and many businesses are closed at this time.
• When inviting Bruneians to lunch or dinner, consider their ethnic origins (eg. pork is forbidden among Muslims). As an option, you may find it easier to ask your guests to recommend a restaurant.
• Avoid conversations concerning sex, religion or politics.
• When entering a Malay or Chinese house, shoes should be taken off and left outside.

Social etiquette with Brunei Malays:

• It is considered impolite to show the soles of your feet when seated opposite a person. Do not cross your legs, but keep your feet flat on the floor.
• Use your right hand at all times when giving or receiving.
• Avoid touching and pointing. If you need to point, use the thumb of your right hand with your other fingers clenched.
• Public displays of affection such as hugging and kissing are not usual in Brunei. It is not customary to shake hands with a member of the opposite sex. Wait for them to offer first.

Social etiquette with Brunei Chinese:

• When giving or receiving an item, such as a business card, it is polite to offer or receive the item with both hands.
• Avoid touching and pointing.
• Don’t sit until your host or hostess invites you to do so.

Please also note: Bribery of foreign public officials is a crime. Australian individuals and companies can be prosecuted in Australia for bribing foreign officials when overseas. For more information, go to the Attorney General's Department on foreign bribery.

Tariffs and regulations

Brunei has a low tariff regime and no personal income tax. Company tax is 55 per cent for the two oil and gas companies: Brunei Shell and Jasra Elf, and 30 per cent for other companies.

Brunei has strict import regulations on halal, chilled or frozen meat. Halal beef is either supplied by local abattoirs or through an Australian-based company, Halaqah Sdn Bhd (formerly known as The Brunei Meat Export Company) a subsidiary of Jerambak Holdings Pty Ltd based in the Northern Territory.

Items that are permitted to enter Brunei without incurring custom duty:

• 200 cigarettes or 250g tobacco products
• 60ml of perfume
• 250ml eau de toilette
• Two bottles of liquor and 12 cans of beer

Alcohol must be declared at customs upon arrival.

Taxation

Brunei has no personal income tax, no sales tax, payroll, manufacturing or export tax. Sole proprietorship and partnership businesses are not subject to income tax and approved foreign investors are not required to pay company tax for up to eight years.

Companies are subject to tax on the following types of income:

• Gains of profits from any trade, business or vocation
• Dividends received from companies not previously assessed for tax in Brunei
• Interest and discounts
• Rents, royalties, premiums and any other profits arising from properties

However, there is no capital gains tax where the Collector of Income Tax can establish that the gains form part of the normal trading activities – they then become taxable as revenue gains.

Business travel

It will take approximately 20 minutes from Brunei International Airport to the city. The airport tax is B$5 for passengers leaving for destinations in Malaysia or Singapore and B$12 for passengers to all other destinations.

Metered taxis are available from the international airport to all parts of the country. The fare for the 11 kilometre ride from the airport to Bandar Seri Begawan is around B$20. Some hotels provide free transfer from airport. An intermittent bus service runs to and from the airport, and from the capital to the major towns of Brunei except Bangar and Temburong.

Water taxis are the most common form of transport in ‘Kampong Ayer’, the Water Village. Regular water taxis and other boats have routes between the capital and Bangar, and Malaysia, including Limbang (in Sarawak) and Labuan. Onwards connections are available from Labuan to a few towns in the state of Sabah.

Self-drive and chauffeur-driven cars are available for hire at B$100 to B$400 per day depending on the type of car. It is advisable to book cars in advance through the reservation desks at the hotel. An international driving licence is normally required if you are driving.

Visiting this country

Security and health

The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) provides advice for business travellers and tourists going to Brunei. This is regularly updated, and should be checked before planning travel.

Health

It is advisable to be inoculated against cholera and yellow fever, especially if arriving from an affected area, but certificates are not always requested at the point of entry.

Water must be boiled or filtered prior to consumption.

Visas

All non-Brunei citizens require a work permit that is valid for two years.

Application for a labour licence must first be made to the Labour Department. On recommendation, the Immigration Department will then give permission for the worker to enter Brunei. The Labour Department and the Immigration and National Registration Department are two of the six main departments under the Ministry of Home Affairs that deal with foreign workers and foreign employment matters.

Australians are required to have a valid visa to enter Brunei. Australian visitors who enter the country through the International Airport of Brunei can obtain a visa upon arrival for a duration of up to 14 days for the purpose of official, social, tourism or business visits.

Visitors must hold a valid travel document (passport) issued by the Australian government and a return ticket to country of origin or onward destination within 14 days of arrival. They must also have sufficient funds to provide for themselves while staying in Brunei.

Visa costs are as follows:

• A single entry visa to Brunei is B$15
• A transit visa (permits you to stay in Brunei for up to 72 hours) is B$15
• A multiple entry visa for less than three months is B$20
• A multiple entry visa for three months to one year is B$30
• Australian visitors who wish to apply for a multiple entry visa or apply for an employment pass are required to make a personal application to the Department of Immigration, Ministry of Home Affairs in Bandar Seri Begawan.

Australian visitors who wish to stay in Brunei Darussalam for more than 14 days are required to apply at the High Commission of Brunei Darussalam in Canberra before entering the country.

For Brunei visa application in Australia, please contact:

High Commission of Brunei Darussalam
10 Beale Crescent Deakin
ACT 2606
Tel: +61 2 6285 4500, 6285 4501 or 6285 4503
Fax: +61 2 6285 4545

Travel tips and facts

There is a relatively big range of hotels in Brunei. The Empire Hotel and Country Club is a six-star hotel with a room rate of B$250 per night. Room rates for a two- to three-star hotel is approximately B$65 per night. A middle range hotel would cost around B$120 per night including breakfast. The Sheraton Hotel is the only international hotel chain in Brunei, and their room rate is approximately B$190 per night. Hotel rooms are usually available in Brunei, however, it would be advisable to book well in advance in case of a major event.

For further travel information please visit Lonely Planet.

Time

Brunei is two hours behind Australian Eastern Standard Time.

To find out the current time in Bandar Seri Begawan, view the World Clock.

Dialling codes

Brunei's country code is 673.

For calls to Brunei from Australia dial: 0011 + 673 + area code + telephone number.

For calls from Brunei to Australia dial: 00 + 61 + area code + telephone number.

For further information (eg. area codes) please visit the White Pages - international dialling codes.

Electricity

Electricity supply in Brunei is 240 volts, 50 cycles. Standard plugs have three round or square pins.

Weather

Brunei has a tropical climate with high rainfall and warm temperature all year round. Brunei is not directly in the path of tropical storms, cyclones and typhoons, although it is heavily affected by tides.

Monsoon winds influence the climatic variations. The northeast monsoon occurs from December to March, while the southeast monsoon occurs from June to October.

The annual rainfall is generally high with two rainy periods occurring from September to January, and May to June. March and April are the warmest months and humidity is high throughout the year.

For weather details in Brunei, please visit the World Meteorological Organization.

Currency

Oanda currency converter

The official currency is the Brunei dollar (B$).

Public holidays

January 1 – New Year's Day
February 2 – Hari Raya Haji
February 23 – National Day
May 2 – The Birthday of Prophet Muhammad
May 31 – Royal Brunei Armed Forces Day
July 15 – The Birthday of the Sultan of Brunei

Useful websites and resources

Government, business and trade

Brunei Australia bi-lateral relationship – www.dfat.gov.au/geo/brunei/brunei_brief.html
Brunei Chamber of Commerce – www.brudirect.com/BruneiInfo/info/brudirect__chamber_of_commerce.htm
Brunei Government Plan – www.brunei.gov.bn/government/plan.htm
Brunei Industrial Development Department – www.bina.gov.bn
Brunei Ministry of Development – www.mod.gov.bn
Brunei Ministry of Industry and Primary Resources – www.industry.gov.bn
The Business Directory – www.bruneidirect.com/New_bizcentre/Directory.htm 
East Asia Growth Area – www.brunet.bn/org/bimpeaga/bimpb.htm 

News and media

The Borneo Bulletin – www.brunet.bn/news/bb/front.htm

Travel and tourism

BruDirect – www.brudirect.com/BruneiInfo/info/brudirect__TourInfo.htm

Please note: this list of websites and resources is not definitive. Inclusion in this list does not imply endorsement by Austrade. The information provided is a guide only.

(Last updated: 19 Aug 2008)