Bismillahirrahmanirrahim 

Assalamualaikumwarahmatullahhiwabarakatuh Salam sejahtera and a very good afternoon.

• Dr Sander Happaerts, Green and Digital Counsellor, Delegation of the European Union to Indonesia and Brunei Darussalam

• YM Puan Khairunnisa Ash’ari, Lead Coordinator, EU–Brunei Darussalam Partnership Facility

• Your Excellencies, Ambassadors and Members of the Diplomatic Corps

• Distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen

On behalf of the Ministry of Transport and Infocommunications, I am honoured to join you today for this important policy outreach seminar on Artificial Intelligence.

I would also like to commend the EU–Brunei Darussalam Partnership Facility and the EU for their strong support and for convening this timely seminar that fosters mutual learning and deepens collaboration in the governance of AI, a technology that is difficult to keep up with both in terms of the technology itself and perhaps even more so from a regulatory perspective. In this age of accelerated transformation, collaboration is not optional—it is essential.

1. The Strategic Importance of AI for Brunei

Ladies and Gentlemen.

With the continued rise and prominence of Artificial Intelligence, Brunei Darussalam sees AI not only as an enabler but as a new catalyst for innovation and development—supporting more efficient public services, improving access to healthcare and education, driving innovation, and advancing economic resilience.

However, with these opportunities come new policy responsibilities. For small, highly connected nations like ours, it is critical that we get the foundations right—building systems that are safe, ethical, and inclusive.

As noted by Yang Berhormat Pengiran Dato Shamhary during the 2025 Digital Future Conference:

2. Advancing Ethical and Responsible AI Use

Central to this trust is the launch of Brunei’s Guidelines on AI Governance and Ethics, developed by the Authority for Info-communications Technology Industry of Brunei Darussalam (AITI). These guidelines set out national principles for responsible AI adoption—which emphasize on transparency, human oversight, risk management, and alignment with our values.

We are pleased that these Guidelines will be discussed during today’s seminar. They represent our commitment to responsible innovation and provide a baseline for both government and private sector entities to navigate the emerging AI landscape confidently and safely.

3. Towards a Whole-of-Nation AI Ecosystem

Complementing these efforts, Brunei is also in the process of preparing a Data and AI Strategy as part of a larger initiative—a national roadmap that defines our long-term approach to artificial intelligence.

4. Collaboration Through Science, Technology and Innovation

In support of our broader commitment to innovation, the Ministry has also signed an agreement with the Centre for Strategic and Policy Studies (CSPS) to develop a National Science, Technology and Innovation (STI) Framework.

Seminars like today contribute towards innovation—in a way it generates policy insight, surfacing international best practices, and reinforcing alignment with our national priorities.

5. Common Ground with the European Union

Brunei and the EU share common concerns in AI policy: that focus on areas such as ethics, data privacy, cybersecurity, and digital inclusion.

We welcome the EU’s leadership through initiatives such as the AI Act and EuroStack, which provide inspiration for small states to craft adaptive and principled AI policy.

We value this engagement as part of a broader agenda of aligning our frameworks with international standards while reflecting national contexts.

Another important topic where Brunei can learn from the EU is on data protection. We have recently announced that the Personal Data Protection Order will go into effect in in January2026 and organisations in Brunei are now in the process of preparing for its implementation. This is another area that Brunei can learn from the EU’s General Data Protection Regulation or GDPR, which came into effect in 2018.

6. Building a Digital Brunei

The recent evolution of the Digital Economy Council into the Digital Brunei Council reflects Brunei’s holistic commitment to a digitally empowered society.

 

We are advancing on multiple fronts, including the Personal Data Protection Order 2025, digital literacy outreach, and Fact Checking tools such as Waspada.bn.

We also enacted the Cybersecurity Act 2023, which establishes a legal framework authorising the taking of measures to prevent, manage and respond to cybersecurity threats and incidents to strengthen Brunei’s resilience and accountability across public and private sectors.

These efforts are essential for nurturing a digital ecosystem that is trusted, inclusive, and resilient—where innovation is grounded in Bruneian values and global responsibility.

7. Conclusion: Partnership for the Digital Future

Ladies and Gentlemen.

Artificial Intelligence challenges us to rethink how we govern, regulate, and collaborate. The choices we make today will define whether AI becomes a force for empowerment—or division.

Let us continue working together to share knowledge, strengthen cooperation, and co-create the digital future we all want to see—one that is trusted, inclusive, and anchored in shared human values.

Thank you, and I look forward to the discussion that follow. 

Wabillahi taufiq wal hidayah wasalamualaikum warkah matullahi wabarakatuh.

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