YANG BERHORMAT
PENGIRAN DATO SERI SETIA SHAMHARY
BIN PENGIRAN DATO PADUKA MUSTAPHA
MINISTER OF TRANSPORT AND INFOCOMMUNICATIONS
IN CONJUCTION WITH
FRENCH BRUNEIAN BUSINESS ASSOCIATION (FBBA)
ANNUAL GET-TOGETHER 2025
“FRENCH BRUNEIAN BUSINESS ASSOCIATION (FBBA)
25TH ANNIVERSARY – THROUGH THE YEAR”
Date:
Saturday, 25 October 2025
Venue:
Tarindak d’ Seni
Bismillahir Rahmanir Rahim.
Your Excellency Mrs Eve Lubin, Ambassador of French toBrunei Darussalam and Petron of French Bruneian Business Association (FBBA),
Mr Pierre Imhof, President of French Bruneian Business Association (FBBA),
Your Excellencies High Commissioners, Ambassadors, and Members of the Diplomatic Corp;
Permanent Secretaries, Deputy Permanent Secretaries, Senior Officials;
Members of the French Bruneian Business Association (FBBA),
Distinguished Guests, Ladies and Gentlemen,
Assalamu’alaikum warahmatullahi wabarakatuh, a very good evening and bonjour a tous.
1. Every lasting partnership tells a story of trust, of shared purpose, and of people who believe that collaboration can create something greater than themselves. Tonight, as we gather to celebrate twenty-five years of the French Bruneian Business Association (FBBA), we are celebrating not just an organisation but a legacy of friendship and progress that continues to grow stronger with time.
2. I am pleased and honoured to be part of this occasion. I wish to express my sincere appreciation to the French Bruneian Business Association (FBBA) for kindly inviting me and my wife, and for FBBA’s continued role in strengthening the bridge between Brunei Darussalam and France. This bridge carries more than business. It carries a bond of mutual respect, shared ambition, and enduring friendship.
3. The theme of this evening, “Through the Years,” beautifully reflects the journey of the Association. It tells a story of commitment, of people who have turned ideas into progress, and of how cooperation between our two nations has grown from strength to strength.
4. The French Bruneian Business Association (FBBA) has established itself as one of the most active and respected business associations in Brunei Darussalam. Through insightful discussions, business networking and collaboration with ministries and the private sector, the Association has provided a valuable space where ideas are shared, connections are made, and opportunities are created.
5. Over the past twenty-five years, French Bruneian Business Association (FBBA) has played an important role in deepening economic ties and fostering mutual understanding between Brunei Darussalam and France.
6. The Association has helped both Bruneian and French enterprises to explore new partnerships that support growth, innovation, and shared prosperity.
7. The Ministry of Transport and Infocommunications covers a wide range of sectors, and I am pleased to acknowledge the meaningful partnerships that have developed with French companies over the years. Allow me to highlight a few areas where our collaboration has been most visible and impactful.
8. In aviation, Royal Brunei Airlines continues to operate a fleet of Airbus aircrafts, that has assembly lines in Toulouse, France.A symbol of trust and confidence in French engineering and technological excellence.
9. The Department of Civil Aviation has also benefited from the long-standing technical support of Thales, which has worked with Brunei Darussalam for over three decades in maintaining and enhancing our navigation systems.
10. Most recently, on the 11th of October this year, a new primary and secondary radar was recently installed to further strengthen Brunei’s air traffic management. This is yet another achievement that reflects the strength of our collaboration.
11. Beyond aviation, there are emerging areas of cooperation that hold great promise. One such area is cybersecurity. Both Brunei Darussalam and France recognise that as technology advances, so do the challenges we face. Cybersecurity has become a matter of national resilience and shared responsibility.
12. In an increasingly techno-polar world where much of government, business, media, and society depend heavily on the underlying digital infrastructure of Big Tech, it is important for small nations, like Brunei, to form trusted partnerships with technology providers based on common values and principles, as well as supporting our national development goals.
13. We look forward to exploring new areas of collaboration with our French partners, particularly in strengthening capacity building and technical training for our cybersecurity professionals, in both civilian and defence contexts. Such cooperation will further enhance our readiness and trust in an increasingly connected world.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
14. Tonight’s gathering is a celebration of enduring friendship and shared aspirations. It is a reminder that great partnerships are not built overnight, but through years of patience, consistency, and mutual respect. The French Bruneian Business Association (FBBA) has exemplified this spirit.
15. Events like this remind us that progress begins with people. It is through dialogue, trust, and a willingness to understand one another that we create lasting impact.
16. As we look toward the future, I am confident that French Bruneian Business Association (FBBA) will continue to grow as a strong bridge of opportunity, linking the dynamism of France with the aspirations of Brunei Darussalam. Together, we can expand our collaboration in areas such as technology, sustainability, education and digital innovation.
17. The theme “Through the Years” reminds us that the strength of any journey lies not in how fast we move, but in how far we travel together. As French Bruneian Business Association (FBBA) celebrates its twenty-fifth anniversary, may this milestone inspire us to continue building a future of innovation, friendship and shared prosperity for generations to come.
18. My heartfelt congratulations once again to the French Bruneian Business Association (FBBA) on this remarkable achievement.
19. May this milestone inspire us to look forward with renewed optimism and determination, and may the friendship between Brunei Darussalam and France continue to shine as a model of partnership built on trust and respect.
Merci beaucoup and thank you.
Wabillahi Taufik Walhidayah, Wassalamu AlaikumWarrahmatullahi Wabarakatuh.
