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BRUNEIAN Facts & Figures

Size: 2,226 square miles

Population: 401,890

Capital: Bandar Seri Begawan

Currency: Brunei Dollar

Weather / Climate:

The climate in Brunei is tropical equatorial and humid subtropical at higher altitudes with heavy rainfall. Bandar Seri Begawan's climate is tropical equatorial with two seasons. Dry season is extremely hot (24 to 36 °C / 75.2 to 96.8 °F. Wet or rainy season is generally warm and wet (20 to 28 °C / 68 to 82.4 °F). Most of the country is a flat coastal plain with mountains in the east and hilly lowland in the west. The lowest point is at sea level and the highest is Bukit Pagon (1,850 m/6,070 ft).

Brunei-Muara District and Bandar Seri Begawan are humid tropical on the coastal and lower altitude north and Humid subtropical in central Brunei-Muara District. (20 to 36 degrees)
Tutong District is Tropical, Hot on the north and warm on the south. (22 to 32 degrees)
Belait District is Tropical, Hot on the north and slight warm on the south. (25 to 37 degrees)
Temburong District is Humid subtropical on the higher altitude south and humid tropical on the coastal and lower altitude north. (18 to 29 degrees)

Taken from www.wikipedia.com

BRUNEIAN languages

There are a multitude of languages spoken in Brunei^[1]. The official language of the state of Brunei is Melayu Brunei. This came into force on 29 September 1959, with the signing of Brunei 1959 Constitution^[2].

English is also widely used as a business and working language. It is also the language of instruction in secondary and tertiary education. Other languages spoken in Brunei include the Chinese, Indian and Native languages spoken by the minority ethnic groups.

The local dialect Melayu Brunei (Brunei Malay) is the official standardized form of the Malay language used in Brunei. It is also spoken as lingua franca in some parts of East Malaysia such as Federal Territory of Labuan, District of Limbang and Lawas (Sarawak) and District of Sipitang, Beaufort, Kuala Penyu and Papar (Sabah). It is spoken by about 266,000 people.^[3] There are calls to expand the use of the language in Brunei.^[4] Brunei Malay is quite divergent from standard Malay and the rest of the Malay dialects and is mostly mutually unintelligible. Brunei Malay is the official printed form and is used in all official Brunei government media.

The Malay language, also known locally as Bahasa Melayu, is the standard language for the peoples of the Malay Archipelago and is spoken as a lingua franca in Brunei. The official standard for the language, has been defined and agreed upon by the Language and Literature Bureaus of Indonesia, Malaysia and Brunei. Standard Malay ia also accepted in the printed form and is used in all official Brunei government media as well.

Arabic is the language of the Koran and is used by the Islamic Scholars in Brunei. The official religion of Brunei is Islam^[5] and as such, all adherents of the faith possess some proficiency in reading and speaking Arabic.

Arabic is also taught in schools, particularly religious schools, and also in institutes of higher learning^[6]. As of 2004, there are six Arabic schools and one religious teacher's college in Brunei^[7].

Taken from:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Languages_of_Brunei

BRUNEIAN culture

A tiny country with a small population, Brunei Darussalam was the only Malay state in 1963 to choose to remain a British dependency rather than join the Malaysian Federation.

It became independent in 1984 and, thanks to its large reserves of oil and gas, now has one of the highest standards of living in the world. Its ruling royals, led by the head of state Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah, possess a huge private fortune.

A country of dense forests and mangrove swamps whose people enjoy high subsidies and pay no taxes, Brunei is highly dependent on imports. Despite its immense wealth, most of the country outside the capital remains undeveloped and unexploited. While oil and gas exports account for the bulk of government revenues, reserves are dwindling and Brunei is attempting to diversify its economy. It markets itself as a financial centre and as a destination for upmarket and eco-tourism.

Islam was brought to the region from South India in the early 1400s. A century later, the first European explorers arrived. In the 16th century, Brunei was an important trading centre and a regional power, and its influence spread as far afield as the central Philippines. But by the 19th century, the sultanate was in decline, opening the way for the British to wrest control of the Malaysian states of Sarawak and Sabah from the sultan. Brunei itself became a British protectorate in 1888.

Since 1962 the sultan has ruled by decree. In a rare move towards political reform an appointed parliament was revived in 2004. The constitution provides for an expanded house with up to 15 elected MPs.

About two-thirds of the people of Brunei are ethnic Malays, and these benefit from positive discrimination. The Chinese comprise about 16% of the population. There are also Indians and indigenous groups, of whom the Murut and Dusuns are favoured over the Ibans. Islam is the official state religion of Brunei, and about two-thirds of Bruneians are Muslims. Buddhists (mainly Chinese) make up about 13% of Brunei's population; Christians are 10%.

Visitors to the "Abode of Peace" (the literal translation of darussalam) will find the country surprisingly laid-back and relaxing. In addition to admiring the gilded domes, towering minarets and extraordinary ornamentation of two landmark mosques in the capital, Bandar Seri Begawan, tourists can explore water villages by boat and on foot, learn about local culture in several interesting museums, sample delicious Malay cuisine (some of the best can be found at open-air markets), and experience the incredibly biodiversity of the Bornean rain forest in Ulu Temburong National Park.

Visitors should dress modestly. Shoes must be removed when entering mosques and Muslim homes. Some Bruneians do not shake hands with people of the opposite sex. It is impolite to point with the index finger (the right thumb should be used instead). Food may be served without cutlery: eat using the right hand only. It is widely regarded as discourteous to refuse refreshments or to eat in public during Ramadan.

Visitors should note that there are severe penalties for all drug offences, and that the legal system in Brunei is partly based on Shariah law and can, occasionally, apply to non-Muslims, including visitors. Dress is informal except for special occasions. Women should ensure that their head, knees and arms are covered.

Holidays

Muslim festivals are timed according to local sightings of various phases of the moon. During the lunar month of Ramadan that precedes Hari Raya Puasa, Muslims fast during the day and feast at night and normal business patterns may be interrupted. Restaurants are closed during the day and Muslims are prohibited from smoking and drinking. Some disruption may continue into Hari Raya Puasa itself. Hari Raya Puasa and Hari Raya Haji may last anything from two to 10 days.

· 01 January – New Year's Day

· 23 January – Chinese New Year

· 04 February – Maulud, Birth of the Prophet

· 23 February – National Day

· 31 May – Anniversary of Royal Brunei Malay Regiment

· June – Israk Mikraj, Ascension of the Prophet

· 15 July – Sultan’s Birthday

· July – Start of Ramadan

· August – Hari Raya, End of Ramadan

· October/November – Hari Raya Aidiladha, Feast of the Sacrifice

· November – Hijriah, Islamic New Year

· 25 December – Christmas Day

Taken from:

www.bbc.co.uk

www.worldtravelguide.net

BRUNEIAN people

The population of Brunei in July 2011 was 401,890 of which 76% live in urban areas. The average life expectancy is 76.17 years. In 2004, 66.3% of the population were Malay, 11.2% are Chinese, 3.4% are Indigenous, with smaller groups making up the rest.^[4]

The official language of Brunei is Melayu Brunei (Brunei Malay), the official standardized form of the Malay language used in Brunei. Brunei Malay is quite divergent from standard Malay and the rest of the Malay dialects and is mostly mutually unintelligible.^[1] English and Chinese are also spoken.^[39] Bahasa Rojak, often spoken by the media and the public, is known as a "mixed language" and considered detrimental to normal Malay.^[40] Other languages spoken include Kedayan, Tutong, Murut, Dusun and Iban.^[39] English is also widely spoken^[41] and there is a relatively large expatriate community with significant numbers of British and Australian citizens.

Islam is the official religion of Brunei,^[4] and the sultan is the head of the religion in the country.^{[citation needed]} Two-thirds of the population adheres to Islam. Other faiths practiced are Buddhism (13%, mainly by the Chinese) and Christianity (10%).^[4] Freethinkers, mostly Chinese, form about 7% of the population. Although most of them practice some form of religion with elements of Buddhism, Confucianism and Taoism, they prefer to present themselves as having professed no religion officially, hence regarded as atheists in official censuses. Followers of indigenous religions are about 2% of the population.

Taken from:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brunei#Demographics

BRUNEIAN food

Cuisine of Brunei it's similar to, and heavily influenced by the cuisine of neighbouring Malaysia, Singapore,and Indonesia, with additional influences from India, China, Thailand, and Japan. As is common in the region, fish and rice are staple foods, though beef is expensive and thus less common. Due to the predominance of the Islamic religion, the food is halal and pork is avoided. Alcohol is banned in Brunei. In rural areas, game animals such as wild birds, sambar deer, and barking deer are hunted.

Common foods and dishes

Dished from Brunei are often spicy, and are commonly eaten with either rice or noodles. Beef rendang, nasi lemak and puteri nanas, are popular foods in Brunei.^[2] Among the few dishes peculiar to Brunei is ambuyat, a sticky ball of flavourless sago starch, which is wrapped around a bamboo fork and dipped into a sour fruit sauce.

Beverages

Common drinks include coconut milk, fruit juice, tea and coffee. Food from many other cultures, such as Chinese and Indian, are present in Brunei.

Taken from wikipedia

Places to go in BRUNEI

Shopping is one of the favourite pastimes of Brunei nationals. The landmark Yayasan Complex, an upscale mall near the BSB waterfront, boasts the four-storey Hua Ho Department Store, classy boutiques and powerful air-con. Brunei's best-loved shopping district - including its largest shopping mall, The Mall - is in Gadong, 3km northwest of central BSB. Pricey textiles, silverwork, carved wood, ceremonial swords and even brass mini-cannons made by local artisans are on sale at the Arts & Handicrafts Training Centre, on the river east of BSB, but for simple souvenirs you'll get much better prices at Tamu Kianggeh, a sprawling outdoor market just east of downtown.

The sale and public consumption of alcohol is banned, so Brunei's nightlife is pretty low-key. In the absence of bars, a night out in the capital usually consists of a meal, possibly followed by shopping or a film, in a suburban district such as Gadong or Kiulap.

The Bandar Seri Begawan waterfront of Brunei's capital, recently turned into a handsome pedestrian promenade, is a great place for a watery stroll, especially in the evening. Signs point out sights of historical interest, and restaurants offer local and "exotic" food and drink.

Omar Ali Saifuddien Mosque, named after the father of the current sultan, boasts dazzling golden domes, a 44m-high minaret, sparkling chandeliers and fine carpets. Completed in 1958, it is surrounded by a lagoon that creates dazzling reflections after sundown.

Jame'Asr Hassanil Bolkiah Mosque, Brunei's grandest mosque, built in 1992 to celebrate the current sultan's silver jubilee on the throne, features intricate terrazzo tile work on the outside and spectacular opulence inside. The complex is especially magical around sunset.

Twelve Roofs House, once the colonial-era home of Brunei's British high commissioners, now houses exhibits illustrating the sultanate's "special relationship" with the United Kingdom. The evocative photos include views of Brunei a century ago.

The sultanate's national museum has sections on Islamic art, traditional Bruneian culture and natural history. Highlights include 9th- and 10th-century ceramics and blown glass from the Near East, and a life-size diorama of a Malay wedding.

See the architectural masterpiece that is the Empire Hotel & Country Club, set in acres of tropical gardens at the doorstep of one of the oldest rainforests in southeast Asia. Its golf course has views over the South China Sea and it is Brunei's only beach resort.

Malay Technology Museum is just down the hill from the Brunei Museum. This institution illustrates life in both a Malay water village and a Dayak longhouse. The displays are not the newest but are interesting if you'd like to learn more about local culture.

Oil & Gas Discovery Centre is Brunei's main centre of oil and gas production and it is home to a museum dedicated to the extraction of petroleum, source of the sultanate's extraordinary riches. Sponsored by Brunei Shell, the centre has educational programmes featuring science and engineering.

The Billionth Barrel Monument near Kuala Belait is a testament to the continuing importance of oil to Brunei's economy.

Kampung Ayer Cultural & Tourism Gallery was opened in 2009. This museum offers an interesting look at the history of the water village of Kampung Ayer and the crafts traditionally practiced there. A viewing tower affords panoramic views of the bustling Brunei River and the centre of Bandar Seri Begawan.

Istana Nurul Iman is said to be the world's largest residence of any sort anywhere in the world. This 1788-room palace is home to the sultan and his family. The interior can be visited only during the three-day Hari Raya Aidilfitri celebrations at the end of Ramadan but the exterior can be admired from the Brunei River.

Check out the other royal sites, including the ancient Tomb of Sultan Bolkiah, the fifth sultan, known as the 'singing admiral' for his love of both music and conquest, and the Royal Regalia Building in the heart of the capital, home to a collection of ceremonial objects.

Royal Regalia Museumfeatures the sultan's coronation parade on the ground floor and bejewelled gifts from world leaders upstairs.

Jerudong Theme Park, once-extravagant amusement park, has lost most of its rides to bankruptcy but has recently recast itself as a family-oriented theme park with plenty of performances, gardens and fountains - fun for children and adults alike.

Kampong Ayer, the sultanate's largest water village built on stilts along the banks of the Brunei River, is an ideal place to get a sense of Bruneians' traditional way of life. After taking a water taxi over from downtown Bandar Seri Begawan, visitors can stroll among colourfully painted houses on wooden boardwalks.

Muara Beaches - several stretches of sand suitable for sunbathing are situated not far from Brunei's main commercial and ferry ports. Food stalls make picnicking easy and delicious.

Find more beaches at Muara, Serasa, Kuala Belait and Lumut Beach near Tutong, where water sports are popular.

Try out traditional sporting activities, such as gasing, a game involving highly polished giant tops, and kite flying.

Pulau Selirong mangrove, the largest island in Temburong District, much of it covered with mangroves, has been turned into a wildlife sanctuary where visitors can often spot endangered proboscis monkeys. To get there, book a tour in BSB; it takes 45 minutes from Muara by boat. Other wildlife includes macaques, kingfishers and eagles.

Drive out to Tasek Merimbun, Brunei's largest lake. Located in a hill resort in the Tutong District just over an hour's drive from Bandar Seri Begawan, peaceful picnicking, bird watching and jungle trails await.

UluTemburong National Park - enlightened conservation practices have left Brunei's Temburong District with one of the largest tracts of unspoilt rain forest anywhere in Borneo. The small section open to visitors has a vertigo-inducing canopy walk. Access to the park is by motorised longboat.

Taken from www.worldtravelguide.net

Doing business in BRUNEI

Brunei Business etiquette

Opening hours in Brunei are as follows:
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

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.
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.

Tariffs/regulations in Brunei

Bruneihas 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.

Bruneihas 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.

Brunei Labour laws

There is a shortage of local labour and approximately one-third of the total work force is made up of foreign workers.
An approved labour licence cannot be altered for at least six months after issue. Applications will not be accepted until the formation of a local company or a branch of a foreign company has been officially approved and registered.
Trade unionism is not extensively practised in Brunei. The Trade Disputes Act provides customary immunities and protections in respect of acts done in furtherance of trade disputes.

Investment in Brunei

Bruneiis currently engaged in an Economic Diversification program whereby the government is proactively promoting investment opportunities in the country via the Ministry of Industry and Primary Resources to foreign companies. This program aims to improve the country’s investment climate through investment treaties and memorandums of understanding with foreign governments and private sector investors.
The Ministry of Industry and Primary Resources is responsible for promoting and facilitating industrial development in Brunei through its Industrial Development Authority (BINA).
The Investment Incentive Act, enacted in 1975, provides tax advantages at start up to businesses plus ongoing incentives throughout growth and expansion.
Industries related to national food security and those based on local resources require some level of local ownership/participation, otherwise industries can be totally foreign owned. Brunei’s Investment Guide lists preferred industries, associated activities and products.

Setting up an office in Brunei

In Brunei a business may be set up under any of the following categories:

- sole proprietorship
- partnership
- company
- branch of a foreign company

All businesses must be registered with the Registrar of Business Names or Registrar of Companies except those using the full name of the owner.
Business premises are required to be licensed under the Miscellaneous Licences Act.
The regulations relating to foreign participation in equity are flexible with 100 per cent foreign ownership permissible in many instances.

All polluting industries are banned and one of the continuing criteria for engaging any industry’s participation is their impact on the environment.

BruneiInfrastructure

Under the current National Development Plan, the government has allocated a total of A$1.4 billion for the development of the transport and communications systems.

Brunei's diversification and development plans are aimed at becoming a regional Service Hub for Trade and Tourism (SHuTT) for the sub-region. As a result of this, port and airport facilities have been upgraded.
Jabatan Telekom Brunei (JTB) and DST Communications Sdn Bhd (DSTCom) are the two operators providing telecommunications services in Brunei. JTB is a government department under the umbrella of the Ministry of Communications.
While the government through JTB, will continue to play a major role in developing the country's physical telecommunications infrastructure, it will continue to look to the private sector for innovation and improvement in provision of services to users.

Taxation in Brunei

Bruneihas 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.

Finance in Brunei

The financial sector in Brunei includes:
nine commercial banks - two of which are locally incorporated
Citibank, Hongkong and Shanghai Bank, and the Standard Chartered Bank (all of which have branches in the country)
locally incorporated and international finance and insurance companiesInterest rates are set by the Association of Banks. All banking activities are closely regulated by the Ministry of Finance through the Department of Financial Services (Treasury), the Brunei Currency Board and the Brunei Investment Agency.
The government has very large foreign reserves and no foreign debt. The Brunei Investment Agency, formed in 1983, is entrusted with the management of the foreign reserves.
Brunei International Financial Centre has been established to encourage financial diversification and the regulated development of the financial services sector in the Brunei economy.
Although Brunei has no central bank, the Ministry of Finance through the Treasury, the Currency Board and the Brunei Investment Agency exercises most of the functions of a central bank. Brunei monetary policy has been determined by the linking the Brunei dollar to the Singapore dollar.
Currency matters are the responsibility of the Brunei Currency Board. It is responsible for the issuing and redemption of state banknotes and coins and the supervision of the banks. The setting up of a Central Monetary Authority is under consideration.

Marketing in Brunei

Bruneiconsumers are quality conscious and therefore prefer to purchase imported products. However, they are also interested in products that are ‘value for money’. Exporters should link with a Brunei-based importer of Australian products.
Promotional fairs are very effective in Brunei. Major supermarket chain stores hold trade and food fairs on a regular basis. The Brunei Commercial Complex is an active venue for trade fairs. Exporters should work with Brunei-based companies through survey and research to build up their market profile.
The Chinese community, who are very familiar with imports from Australia, operate the majority of the supermarkets in Brunei.
The Import and Export Authority are very strict with packaging of products, especially food items. It is advisable to work with a Brunei-based specialist to ensure packaging is suitable for the local market. Non ‘halal’ (not permitted under Islamic law) food products are expected to be displayed in different shelf areas.

e-Business

In November 2000, the Ministry of Communication initiated the Brunei Eco-Cyber Park with a mandate to transform the Brunei economy into one that is driven by information communications technology (ICT) and to focus on ICT as an engine of growth, which supports e-commerce technology.
Since its launch in 1995, BRUNET has upgraded its Internet infrastructure to 45 megabytes per second to cater to the increasing number of Internet users in Brunei. SimpurNet is DSTCom’s newly-launched Internet service provider.

Logistics in Brunei

The country has two main ports: Muara and Kuala Belait. At Muara there is 12 542 square metres of warehouse space and 6225 square metres of transit sheds.

Brunei International Airport at Bandar Seri Begawan provides recently expanded passenger and cargo facilities. The Royal Brunei Airlines operates flight services to over 30 cities. The major airlines servicing Brunei include Malaysia Airlines, Philippine Airlines, Singapore Airlines and Thai Airways. The international airport at Berakas, near the capital, has recently been expanded and modernised.

A 2000 kilometre road network links Maura, the port entry at one end of Brunei, to Belait, the oil-production centre at the western and opposite end of the state.

Business partners in Brunei

Partnerships are not subject to tax in Brunei but may be required to register with the Registrar of Business Names. To form a partnership business in Brunei, the proposed name of the business must be approved first by the Registrar of Companies and Business Names. Foreign individuals are subject to prior clearance by the Immigration Department, Economic Planning Unit and Labour Department before they are registered.