Borneo is ASEAN’s most natural testbed for regional integration. Spanning Brunei Darussalam, Sabah, Sarawak, and Kalimantan, the island is home to more than 25 million people and a wealth of shared economic potential. Yet despite cultural affinities and geographic proximity, intra-Borneo trade remains modest, infrastructure links uneven, and the movement of talent constrained by regulatory fragmentation.
This roundtable convenes policymakers, business leaders, and regional institutions for a forward-looking dialogue on how Borneo can build a more connected economic space—physically, digitally, and institutionally.
The discussion will examine strategic opportunities to harmonise infrastructure development, digitise trade, and unlock new growth in sectors such as energy, food, tourism, and healthcare. The free movement of skilled professionals, the role of digital tools in scaling cross-border enterprises, and how Borneo can contribute meaningfully to the ASEAN Business Advisory Council's 2025 theme: Unifying Markets for Shared Prosperity will be explored.
By focusing on practical collaboration and policy alignment, the roundtable aims to develop a shared vision for intra-Borneo connectivity—where goods, services, and talent move with greater ease, and where regional development is driven by economic complementarity rather than competition.
The Roundtable is hosted by the ASEAN Business Advisory Council (ASEAN-BAC) Brunei and the APEC Business Advisory Council (ABAC) Brunei, in collaboration with the Ministry of Finance and Economy.
Agenda
Registration and Networking
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​Welcoming Remarks
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Haji Abdul Saman bin Haji Ahmad, ASEAN BAC Member and President of the National Chamber of Commerce and Industry Brunei Darussalam
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Pengiran Aki Ismasufian bin Pengiran Haji Ibrahim, Chair, APEC Business Advisory Council Brunei and CEO, Standard Chartered Bank
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​The Role of Connectivity in Intra-Borneo Trade
Keynote Address by YB Pengiran Dato Shamhary bin Pengiran Dato Paduka Haji Mustapha,
Minister of Transport and Infocommunications, Brunei Darussalam*
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Sharing Session
Regional Trade Priorities, Shared Ambitions: Charting a Collaborative Agenda for Borneo
Featuring presentations and updates by
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Yang Berhormat Adam Yii, Mayor of Miri City
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Dr Firdausi Suffian, CEO, Invest Sabah Bhd
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Mr. Daniel Leong, Acting CEO, Brunei Economic Development Board
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Haji Alimen bin Haji Ja'afar, BIMP EAGA Country Director for Brunei
The discussion will explore how different regions can complement one another and form the basis of a cohesive intra-Borneo trade agenda. Areas of focus will include health services, food security and agribusiness, energy, travel and tourism, and the digital economy.
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Networking Break
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A Conversation on Borneo’s Role in the ASEAN Power Grid
Borneo’s vast renewable resources and strategic location give it a vital role in ASEAN’s vision for a connected, low-carbon energy future.
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How can Borneo accelerate its integration into regional power networks? What opportunities will this create for investment and energy security?
Presentation by Beni Suryadi, Senior Manager of APAEC and Strategic Partnership, ASEAN Centre for Energy followed by Q&A
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Roundtable Concludes
13:30
14:00
17:00
14:10
15:30
14:30
16:00
This session is by invitation only.
Invited participants are kindly requested to confirm their attendance by RSVP below
