(Bandar Seri Begawan, 12th) Brunei’s Minister at the Prime Minister’s Office and Minister of Finance and Economy II, Dato Seri Setia Dr. Awang Haji Mohd Amin Liew Abdullah, stated at the launch ceremony of the 2026 Brunei Entrepreneurship Summit yesterday that startups must establish an open international vision and make use of regional connectivity to expand into overseas markets.
Dato Amin Liew, speaking in his capacity as Chairman of the Brunei Economic Development Board (BEDB), presided over the two-day summit at the Radisson Hotel in Gadong.
He emphasized that as Brunei's entrepreneurial ecosystem continues to mature, startups play a crucial role in driving economic diversification, improving productivity, and fostering innovation-driven growth.
He stressed that, in order for Bruneian startups to participate more effectively in the Borneo region, ASEAN, and the broader global market, it is essential to build strategic partnerships and strengthen regional cooperation to help Brunei develop a resilient, innovation-driven economy.
This summit, organized by the Brunei Economic Development Board, aims to provide a platform for entrepreneurship, startup development, and cross-border cooperation.
Acting CEO of the Brunei Economic Development Board, Liang Zhiqiang, stated that although the entrepreneurial ecosystem is still in its developmental stage, more and more founders are building, testing, and refining their ideas, which signifies an encouraging momentum.
He said: “This year’s theme, ‘Empowering Growth: Innovation Without Borders’, reflects our commitment to providing founders with the capabilities, perspectives, and networks they need to seize emerging opportunities.” He added that many startups in the region are transitioning from the experimental phase to a stage that is critical for execution and sustainable growth.
The summit brought together more than 500 participants from Brunei and surrounding regions, including startup founders, investors, business representatives, policymakers and ecosystem partners, reflecting the growing engagement and interest in Brunei as a base for innovative business development.
Summit content includes keynote speeches, panel discussions, workshops, startup exhibitions, and project roadshows, focusing on practical business challenges such as building resilient teams, achieving product-market fit, financing, leveraging data and artificial intelligence, and expanding into regional markets.
Participants also connected directly with investors and regional ecosystem stakeholders through networking and project roadshow opportunities, exploring potential collaboration opportunities, funding avenues, and market expansion strategies.
Dato Amin Liew, speaking in his capacity as Chairman of the Brunei Economic Development Board (BEDB), presided over the two-day summit at the Radisson Hotel in Gadong.
He emphasized that as Brunei's entrepreneurial ecosystem continues to mature, startups play a crucial role in driving economic diversification, improving productivity, and fostering innovation-driven growth.
He stressed that, in order for Bruneian startups to participate more effectively in the Borneo region, ASEAN, and the broader global market, it is essential to build strategic partnerships and strengthen regional cooperation to help Brunei develop a resilient, innovation-driven economy.
This summit, organized by the Brunei Economic Development Board, aims to provide a platform for entrepreneurship, startup development, and cross-border cooperation.
Acting CEO of the Brunei Economic Development Board, Liang Zhiqiang, stated that although the entrepreneurial ecosystem is still in its developmental stage, more and more founders are building, testing, and refining their ideas, which signifies an encouraging momentum.
He said: “This year’s theme, ‘Empowering Growth: Innovation Without Borders’, reflects our commitment to providing founders with the capabilities, perspectives, and networks they need to seize emerging opportunities.” He added that many startups in the region are transitioning from the experimental phase to a stage that is critical for execution and sustainable growth.
Summit content includes keynote speeches, panel discussions, workshops, startup exhibitions, and project roadshows, focusing on practical business challenges such as building resilient teams, achieving product-market fit, financing, leveraging data and artificial intelligence, and expanding into regional markets.
Participants also connected directly with investors and regional ecosystem stakeholders through networking and project roadshow opportunities, exploring potential collaboration opportunities, funding avenues, and market expansion strategies.