Interview with Dato Dr. Abdul Manaf Metussin, Minister of Primary Resources and Tourism, Brunei

17 Dec Interview with Dato Dr. Abdul Manaf Metussin, Minister of Primary Resources and Tourism, Brunei

What major milestones has the government passed in galvanizing its agriculture, forestry and fisheries sectors?

For Brunei, the agriculture, fishery and forestry sectors are closely tied to food security. Given current geopolitical tensions and climate change, ensuring food security is more critical than ever. The COVID-19 pandemic taught us valuable lessons; during lockdowns supply chains were disrupted, highlighting our vulnerability. Strengthening food security remains the ministry’s top priority. Currently, the food sector contributes around 1.2% to 1.5% of Brunei’s gross domestic product, with a production value of approximately $556 million in 2023. While this figure may seem modest, its importance for national food security is immense. We have made significant progress; Brunei is now self-sufficient in poultry and eggs, 72% in tropical vegetables and 71% in fish. However, challenges remain. For instance, the poultry industry still relies heavily on imported fertilized eggs, highlighting gaps in the value chain. Over the past two years, we have focused on addressing these gaps to enhance self-reliance and productivity.

Another priority is optimizing land use through technology. With 72% of our land covered by forests and a commitment to conservation, we are not looking to open new farmland. Instead, we aim to boost productivity on existing land through modern farming techniques, machinery and technology, which have the potential to double our yields. Agribusiness now requires efficiency and profitability. Our goal is to balance sustainability with food security. We want to adopt technology such as precision and smart farming, hydroponics and greenhouse farming. Switching from chemical to organic fertilizers in recent trials increased productivity by 100% and maximized land use. Precision farming uses centralized control systems to automate fertilizer and water distribution via the Internet of Things to replace manual methods. Some farms have already adopted this method.  Digitization enhances efficiency, making these farms significantly more productive and profitable than traditional ones.

Rice production in Brunei has traditionally been low, yielding only 1-2 tons per hectare with traditional rice varieties. To address this, we adopted hybrid rice technology to increase yields to 4-5 tons per hectare and raise self-sufficiency from 2% to 8%. Currently, this technology is applied in irrigated fields. With 50% of our fields being non-irrigated, we are now working to extend hybrid technology to these areas to achieve 12% self-sufficiency. Additionally, our fisheries are shifting from traditional capture methods that rely heavily on natural resources by adopting recirculating aquaculture systems. Current projects focus on species like barramundi, with plans to expand to salmon and sturgeon. This approach allows us to conserve wild fish stocks while promoting sustainable, environmentally friendly and efficient fish farming. Over the past three years, we have seen positive results. Our goal is to achieve an output valued at 1 billion Brunei dollars or roughly $741 million from the primary sector by 2030.

What is Brunei doing to change its branding as a travel destination and attract US and other foreign visitors?

Tourism is a challenge for Brunei due to our relatively low international profile. To better reflect our unique offerings, our tagline has evolved from “Brunei, Kingdom of the Unexpected Treasure” to “Abode of Peace” to highlight our focus on peace and tranquility. Unlike countries in the region such as Thailand, Malaysia and Singapore, Brunei is relatively new as a tourism destination. We are committed to promoting niche experiences centered around nature, culture and adventure. Brunei stands out, with at least 70% of our land remaining pristine. We are actively promoting ecotourism, such as birdwatching and diving. Earlier this year in Singapore, a tour operator showcased a video of Brunei’s pristine waters, which left a lasting impression. Diving here is a tranquil experience, unlike crowded regional spots with hundreds of boats. Visitors will find only a few boats in Brunei’s waters, allowing for a peaceful and solitary experience. Brunei is also home to rich and diverse wildlife. While other countries showcase wildlife in museums or zoos, Brunei offers a true and untouched experience. Visitors can spot the endemic proboscis monkeys, silver langurs, crocodiles and even the rare and endangered helmeted hornbill just a 15-minute drive from the city. Birdwatchers along the river at dawn can experience a variety of species and our jungles offer trekking through an estimated 100-million-year-old intact rainforest. Our national park is the world’s oldest intact rainforest. It is critical we protect these natural treasures by learning from global examples and prioritizing and reinforcing sustainable tourism.

How has Brunei’s Vision 2035 initiative transformed the development of its five priority sectors?

Our strategy under the government’s Vision 2035 initiative focuses on developing our existing strengths, which is a pragmatic and efficient approach. For example, in the oil and gas sector, we have transitioned from only performing oil extraction to expanding the value chain by producing downstream chemical products. We are leveraging our decades of know-how and supporting infrastructure. Similarly, we are capitalizing on our natural assets in the tourism sector to attract visitors. Many visitors are captivated by our breathtaking sunsets and clear blue skies — wonders we may take for granted but are viewed as rare luxuries by travelers from regions with contrasting landscapes. Brunei’s small size also makes it uniquely convenient for visitors. Most tourist attractions are accessible and within reach. For example, there are excellent destinations for stargazing just an hour from the city. Similarly, our pristine tropical evergreen rainforests are just a short drive away.

As for the food sector, it has also undergone a strategic shift. For three decades the industry concentrated solely on catering to local demand, which led to stagnation. With a population of only 400,000, producing for self-sufficiency alone limited growth opportunities. In recent years under Brunei’s Vision 2035 initiative, we have shifted our efforts toward producing food for export markets. Since 2022, one of our local producers has been exporting eggs to Singapore, which has raised self-sufficiency levels from 100% to 103%. This shift towards exports is encouraging farms to expand and scale up our meat production. Accessing export markets has allowed us to unlock new growth opportunities that were once unattainable. Clinging to the old model leaves our industry stagnant with no prospects for progress or expansion. Our major focus is to build on our existing strengths to enhance growth and develop our economy sustainably.  Through this approach, we will continue to develop our priority sectors such as food —out of necessity — and tourism. We aim to leverage our natural assets for sustainable growth.

What major sustainability milestones has Brunei achieved across tourism, agriculture, aquaculture and forestry industries?

Our forest cover target of 70% is already met; we are now working to maintain and increase it. We are focused on regenerative tourism and agriculture to achieve sustainable productivity. We must question the sustainability of conventional practices. For example, the recirculating aquaculture system in fish or shrimp farming recycles water, making it more eco-friendly. In regenerative agriculture, we use animal and food waste to turn into compost to reduce dependency on chemical fertilizers. In the long run, this improves soil health and fertility. Our experiments with compost have improved soil fertility and boosted productivity by up to 100%. While chemical fertilizers are still necessary, we are gradually shifting toward organic solutions. We handle around 50,000 tons of animal waste annually that would otherwise end up in landfills. Companies are now recycling it, turning it into revenue, benefiting the climate, the economy and farmers.

We are also exploring regenerative tourism such as converting forest recreation areas into parks where tourists can participate in tree planting. We are integrating coral replanting initiatives into our dive tourism experience, which is a project we hope to implement in early 2025. Additionally, we are advancing sustainability through off-grid aquaculture farms powered by solar energy, with one farm already generating 1 megawatt of power. One resort in Brunei has also adopted an off-grid model and relies on solar energy to run its operations. These initiatives align with our commitment to sustainability, productivity and achieving our net-zero carbon goals. Strengthening tourism promotion remains essential to attract more visitors and showcasing Brunei’s unique offerings.

How important is international participation in developing tourism and the primary sectors in Brunei?

We aim to attract and welcome more tourists to visit Brunei and experience our hospitality, particularly through organizing tourism promotion activities in the USA. We have been collaborating with USA-based YouTube users in the USA and achieved great results; social media now drives around 80% of our tourism promotional efforts. Previously, we focused on the UK, Australia, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations region, China, Japan, Korea and the Middle East. With the rise of social media, we are now expanding our reach to US audiences and other countries.

I aim to attract more US companies and investors to explore Brunei’s vast business opportunities. We maintain strong connections with the USA through the US-ASEAN Business Council, which gives us international access and facilitates opportunities in tourism and agriculture with US companies. We are working with these entities in various areas, particularly seed production, an area we are actively developing. During my recent visit to Florida, I met with Benchmark Genetics, a leading producer of Vannamei prawns. This led to a collaboration between our companies, particularly with their Indonesian branch located close to Brunei. This partnership has strengthened ties between our nations. The USA’s technology and expertise are crucial in advancing our agriculture and fisheries sector. We are working with our overseas partners to improve seed and feed production as well as health and biosecurity across the entire value chain.

What are your top personal priorities as a key leader in Brunei’s economic development as we close 2024?

My focus is on growth, with exports being a major priority due to the limitations of domestic production. As a small economy, expanding our market overseas is essential. To achieve this, we are currently working on two areas: strengthening the competent authorities overseeing the primary industry, which includes the Agriculture and Agrifood Department, Department of Fisheries and Brunei Darussalam Food Authority, and enhancing international collaboration. Thanks to recognition by competent authorities in other countries, we have successfully entered the USA, Japan, China and the EU. It is vital our competent authorities are recognized globally to effectively manage our industries. We are preparing our local companies for export by working closely with importing countries’ authorities to secure recognition and accreditation for our production facilities and ensure compliance with export requirements. Additionally, we have introduced certifications such as Brunei Good Agricultural Practice, Brunei Good Aquaculture Practice, Brunei Pesticide Free and Brunei Wood Product to ensure the traceability, safety and sustainability of our primary industry. Our focus is to equip and prepare competent authorities and industry players for export readiness. These priorities will remain at the forefront of our efforts in 2024 and 2025.