Opening

Bismillahir Rahmanir Rahim.

Assalamualaikum warahmatullahi wabarakatuh.

A very good morning.

Salutations

[Adjust the following to the actual attendees and order of precedence]                       

• Yang Mulia Haji Musa bin Haji Adnin, Chair of the ASEAN Business Advisory Council Brunei,
• Yang Mulia Pengiran Aki Ismasufian Pengiran Haji Ibrahim, Chair of the APEC Business Advisory Council Brunei,
• Distinguished speakers,
• Business leaders, industry stakeholders, international experts,
• Esteemed guests, ladies and gentlemen.

​Welcome

1.     It is a privilege to join you at the Digital Economy Forum 2026.

2.     Brunei stands at a turning point in its digital journey. For many years, Brunei has had good coverage of connectivity across the nation. We have built on this and strengthened our digital foundations, which now include digital payment infrastructure, digital identity infrastructure, and a set of policies to support our digital ecosystem.

3.     Yet connectivity and digital infrastructure does not make for a Smart Nation. Our digital interactions are not yet seamless enough. Today, our priority must shift — from building systems to delivering real outcomes, and from strategy to implementation.

4.     Alhamdulillah, Brunei has recently launched Digital Brunei 2030. Representing the next phase of the nation's digital journey, it unites our digital approach across Government, Society, Business, and Data & AI into one coordinated national direction under Wawasan Brunei 2035.

5.     With a vision of “Together Towards a Digital Brunei", the delivery of this new masterplan requires the collaboration of all stakeholders. It is not a vision that can be delivered from the government alone.

6.     It means a digital economy that businesses help build, not one handed down — which makes this a timely forum for moving from strategy to implementation. Realizing this vision requires the participation of all businesses and individuals here today.

7.     This Forum brings together policymakers, business leaders, industry stakeholders, and international experts. It is a testament to our shared commitment: to accelerate adoption, strengthen capabilities, and build a digital economy that is trusted, inclusive, and commercially relevant.

Digital Ecosystem

8.     From a business perspective, we must continue to nurture and develop trust in the digital ecosystem. This includes the implementation of the Personal Data Protection Order, which is now in force. Businesses need to move from awareness to readiness. This Forum has a session dedicated to exactly that — I look forward to the discussions, and I'd encourage everyone to make use of it.

9.     Another area lies in promoting the use of digital payment and digital commerce. This is especially important as we want to help our local businesses tap into the larger ASEAN ecosystem. Access to a market far larger than our own will greatly increase the opportunities available to them.

What We Expect From Industry

10.    Ladies and gentlemen,

11.    The success of Digital Brunei 2030 will depend on how well government and the private sector work together. We cannot be separate actors moving in parallel, but as genuine partners with shared accountability for outcomes. Government can set the direction, build the infrastructure, and create the enabling environment. But adoption, innovation, and the last-mile delivery of digital services happen through business, not from the centre.

12.    Industry must be the engine of this transformation. We call upon businesses to:

• Drive innovation by adopting new technologies and building seamless, citizen-centric solutions.
• Champion digital payments and cashless services that are trusted and convenient.
• Invest in skills — AI literacy, coding, data analysis, and cybersecurity — to empower Brunei's workforce.
• Support MSMEs with tools, advisory services, and access to e-commerce platforms.
• Collaborate with government to simplify processes, integrate systems, and co-create secure, accessible services.
• Build trust through stronger cybersecurity, clearer data protection, and responsive support.

13.    That is what makes forums like this one so important, and why I hope this is not the last of its kind. Collaboration between government and industry must be continuous and not just a one-off conversation. We need industry to bring us solutions to the real problems, and government must be responsive and willing to adjust when you do. This Forum is a platform for exactly that kind of ongoing engagement and I look forward to that relationship deepening through the work that follows today.

Call to Action

14.    Ladies and gentlemen,

15.    Success will not be measured by plans, but by impact. Simpler, faster services for citizens; businesses that grow without friction; a trusted, inclusive, and accessible digital environment; and most importantly, real improvements in everyday life.

16.    Digital transformation must ultimately answer a simple question: does it make life easier?

17.    Allow me to emphasise three priorities.

• Practical implementation. Solutions that deliver measurable impact.
• Adaptiveness. The honest, continuous assessment of what is working — and the willingness to change what is not.
• Ownership. Every organisation must know its role, and act on it.

Closing — From Plans to Delivery

18.    No single institution can deliver this national transformation alone. Government will create the environment. Industry must innovate. Academia must inspire. Communities must adopt. Together, we can move Brunei from being connected to being truly seamless.

19. Thank you.

20. Wabillahi taufik walhidayah, wassalamualaikum warahmatullahi wabarakatuh.