Prime Minister Narendra Modi has arrived in Brunei Darussalam, marking the first-ever bilateral visit by an Indian Prime Minister to the Southeast Asian nation. The Prime Minister was received by Crown Prince Haji Al-Muhtadee Billah as a special gesture upon his arrival. A guard of honour was presented to him, underlining the significance of his visit. This trip is part of a two-nation tour, which also includes Singapore.
"The historic visit of Prime Minister coincides with the 40th anniversary of establishment of diplomatic ties between India and Brunei. Upon arrival in Bandar Seri Begawan, Prime Minister was accorded a ceremonial welcome and warmly received by His Royal Highness Prince Haji Al-Muhtadee Billah, Crown Prince and Senior Minister in the Prime Minister’s Office of Brunei," the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) stated.
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- Upon arrival in Brunei, PM Modi took to X and posted, "PM @narendramodi alights in Brunei to a ceremonial welcome. Warmly received by Crown Prince His Royal Highness Prince Haji Al-Muhtadee Billah. This visit is special as it is the first ever bilateral visit by an Indian PM and is taking place as the two countries are celebrating 40 years of the establishment of diplomatic ties this year."
- As part of his visit, members of the Indian diaspora welcomed PM Modi at the hotel where he will be staying during his time in Bandar Seri Begawan, the capital of Brunei. A child presented Modi with his sketch and was given an autograph by the Prime Minister.
PM Narendra Modi inaugurated the new Chancery premises of the High Commission of India in Brunei today. He lit a lamp and unveiled a plaque on the occasion.
"Prime Minister also interacted with the Indian community members who were present at the inauguration. He appreciated their contribution as a living bridge between the two countries and strengthening bilateral ties. The first phase of Indians arriving in Brunei started with the discovery of oil in the 1920s. Currently, approximately 14,000 Indians are residing in Brunei. The contribution of Indian doctors and teachers to the growth and development of Brunei’s health care and education sectors has been well acknowledged," the MEA stated.
- PM Modi also shared photos of his visit to the Omar Ali Saifuddien Mosque in Brunei. According to MEA, he was received by Brunei’s Minister of Religious Affairs Pehin Dato Ustaz Haji Awang Badaruddin. "Brunei’s Minister of Health Dato Dr. Haji Mohammad Isham was also in attendance. A gathering of Indian community members was also present to greet the Prime Minister," the ministry informed.
- Before departing, PM Modi emphasised the importance of Brunei and Singapore in India's 'Act East' policy, highlighting that these nations are crucial partners in advancing India's relationship with the broader ASEAN region.
"Today, I am embarking on a first-ever bilateral visit to Brunei Darussalam. As we celebrate 40 years of our diplomatic relations, I look forward to my meetings with His Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah and other esteemed members of the Royal family to advance our historical relationship to new heights," PM Modi stated in a departure statement shared by the Ministry of External Affairs.
- Earlier, the Ministry of External Affairs noted that PM Modi's visit to Brunei aims to strengthen cooperation across various sectors, including defence, trade and investment, energy, space technology, health, capacity building, culture, and people-to-people exchanges. The visit is expected to explore new avenues of cooperation as well.
- Following his visit to Brunei, PM Modi will travel to Singapore on 4th September. He expressed his anticipation for meetings with President Tharman Shanmugaratnam, Prime Minister Lawrence Wong, Senior Minister Lee Hsien Loong, and Emeritus Senior Minister Goh Chok Tong. The discussions are expected to deepen the Strategic Partnership between India and Singapore, particularly in emerging areas such as advanced manufacturing, digitalisation, and sustainable development.
- Speaking to news agency ANI, Indian High Commissioner to Singapore, Shipak Ambule, also highlighted the importance of PM Modi's visit, describing it as "a very important visit," coinciding with the early phase of both PM Modi's third tenure and Singapore Prime Minister Lawrence Wong's tenure.
Ambule elaborated that the agenda set during the recent India-Singapore ministerial roundtable will be consolidated and strengthened during PM Modi's visit. The roundtable, held on 26th August, identified key areas for cooperation, including digitisation, skills development, sustainability, health, advanced manufacturing, and connectivity.
- The envoy further emphasised the significance of trade and investment in the bilateral relationship, noting that Singapore is the largest source of foreign direct investment in India. He expressed optimism that the trade and investment partnership will continue to grow, particularly in new and emerging sectors such as green technology, logistics, and advanced manufacturing.
He said, "If you see the bilateral trade, it's more than doubled in the last 10 years." "Our intention is to take it even further, we also combine it with investments. Singapore is the largest source of foreign direct investment in India. So, if you take the basket of trade and investment together, they will only grow up and further improve as we go on," he added, as per ANI.
"Singapore has been a pillar of our engagement with ASEAN nations," Ambule noted, adding that both India and Singapore are eager to enhance their level of cooperation and diversify into advanced technology, green growth, and sustainability.
Both Brunei and Singapore are vital partners in India's 'Act East' Policy and Indo-Pacific Vision, and PM Modi is confident that these visits will further solidify India's relationships with these nations and the ASEAN region.