SPEECH
Yang Berhormat
Pengiran Dato Seri Setia Shamhary
Bin Pengiran Dato Paduka Haji Mustapha
Minister of Transport and Infocommunications
Opening Ceremony of The
BIACC’s Trade and Logistics Expo 2026
Date:
Tuesday, 10 February 2026
Venue:
Brunei Darussalam International Defence Exhibition and Conference (BRIDEX), Jerudong
Bismillahir Rahmanir Rahim.
Alhamdulillahi Rabbil `Alameen. Wasaalatu Wassalaamu `Ala Asyrafil Ambiae Walmursaleen, Saidina Muhammadin Wa’alaa Aalihiee Wasahbihee Ajama’een.
Assalamu’alaikum warahmatullahi wabarakatuh, and a very good morning to all.
Yang Mulia Jo Ann Emilda Embran, Acting General Manager of Brunei International Air Cargo Centre (BIACC),
Yang Berhormat Members of the Legislative Council,
Permanent Secretary, Deputy Permanent Secretaries, Members of the Board of Directors of Brunei International Air Cargo Centre (BIACC) and Senior Officials,
Distinguished Guests, Exhibitors, Industry Partners, Ladies and Gentlemen,
1. I would like to extend my sincere gratitude to BIACC’s management and the organizing committee for inviting me to serve as the Guest of Honour for this inaugural BIACC Trade & Logistics Expo 2026 with the theme “Bridging Ideas, Advancing Cargo Connectivity”.
2. I warmly welcome and commend BIACC for organizing this event and gathering industry leaders, entrepreneurs and policymakers to share each other’s perspectives, strengthen collaboration and unlock the wide-ranging progress and changes required to grow our trade, our logistics and more specifically our air cargo sector.
3. As I stand here and look around, every consumer product that we own, the clothes on our back, the groceries in our fridge, even the stationery and devices you're holding had a passport. Just as a traveler needs a passport to clear immigration, goods also need documentation and clearances to move between destinations before it reached our hands. It traveled thousands of miles through a monumental web of ships, planes, and trucks.
4. Logistics is the invisible thread that weaves the world’s resources into the fabric of our daily life. There is a logistics system working quietly but powerfully to support livelihoods and economic activity.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
5. We have seen how trade and logistics fuels our daily lives, but as industry players, entrepreneurs and policymakers of our beloved country Brunei Darussalam, we need to seize the moment to transform our geography into an asset, build capable infrastructure, increase our transport connectivity, turn every transit point and warehouse into a catalyst for local jobs and national economic vitality.
6. As a nation, we need to transition from consumers to active players in the logistics sector. It is no longer enough for us to simply be the destination on a map; we must also become the architects of the journey. While we have long been beneficiaries of the global supply chain, our future should also lie in becoming a pivotal hub within it. By embedding ourselves into the heart of the logistics ecosystem, we aren’t just receiving goods, we would forge new paths for economic resilience, high-value employment, and sustainable growth.
7. It is within this context that Brunei Darussalam has placed logistics development as a strategic national priority under the Brunei Darussalam Economic Blueprint as well as the Ministry of Transport and Infocommunications Strategic Plan, MTIC 2030.
8. Under MTIC 2030, our vision is clear and ambitious. We aspire to fostering an integrated, modern, and efficient logistics ecosystem that connects air, sea, and land transport into one strong national network.
9. At the heart of air cargo growth stands BIACC. BIACC’s operations is a key pillar of our logistics strategy and a gateway linking Brunei Darussalam to regional and international markets. It plays a vital role in expanding air cargo capacity, improving operational efficiency, strengthening global connectivity, and supporting high-value trade flows.
10. Under MTIC 2030, we have set clear targets to significantly increase both air and sea cargo movement by 2030. For air cargo alone, our aspiration is to ambitiously reach 38,000 tonnes in air cargo movement by 2030.
11. To pave the way, I’m pleased to share that His Majesty the Sultan and Yang Di Pertuan of Brunei Darusslam had last year given consent for BIACC to be awarded a long-term lease that would allow them to re-develop and modernise the operations of the Air Cargo Terminal Building (ACTB) at the Brunei International Airport (BIA), more than doubling its cargo handling capacity when complete as well as to introduce state of the art cold storage and high value cargo handling capabilities.
12. I’m also pleased to share that His Majesty had also last year consented the establishment of a Civil Aviation Steering Committee (Aviation Co.) to oversee the progression of the civil aviation sector including the efficiency and competitiveness of the Brunei International Airport. Co-chaired by the Minister at the Prime Minister’s Office and Minister of Finance II and myself, further demonstrates His Majesty’s Government’s resolve towards development of the sector - as an airport's operations are also central for an effective transportation and logistics industry.
Dear Guests, Ladies and Gentlemen,
13. While infrastructure and technology represent the hardware of the logistics sector, the business community is its software, without the 'operating system' of private-sector partnerships and industry-led trade flows, the investment remains underutilized. Success is found at the intersection of physical capacity and commercial collaboration.
14. This is precisely why platforms such as the BIACC Trade and Logistics Expo are so important. They bring the entire ecosystem together to share ideas, showcase innovation, build partnerships and collectively strengthen Brunei Darussalam’s logistics competitiveness.
15. I encourage all participants to use this Expo not only to present capabilities and services, but to engage meaningfully, explore new collaborations and contribute towards building a stronger air cargo and trade ecosystem for our nation.
16. By strengthening our logistics capabilities today, we are securing Brunei Darussalam’s position in tomorrow’s regional and global economy, that will benefit future generations.
17. The true growth of a logistics sector is a synergistic process; physical infrastructure and systems only generates value when activated by a robust ecosystem of private enterprises, nimble service providers, and strategic investors.
18. I once again congratulate BIACC on organising this important Expo and thank all exhibitors, partners and participants for your commitment to advancing Brunei Darussalam’s trade and logistics sector.
19. As we embark on this journey together, may this Expo serve as a catalyst for stronger partnerships, greater innovation and a more connected future for Brunei Darussalam.
20. With that spirit of progress and collaboration, and with tawakal to Allah Subhanahu Wata’ala, it is my great pleasure to declare the BIACC’s Trade and Logistics Expo 2026 officially open. May all efforts undertaken here bring lasting benefit to Brunei Darussalam.
Thank you.
Wabillahi Taufik Walhidayah, Wassalamu Alaikum Warahmatullahi Wabarakatuh.
