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Canada-Brunei Darussalam Relations

Canada established diplomatic relations with Brunei Darussalam in 1984, following Brunei's independence. Brunei opened its chancery in Ottawa in 1995 and Canada opened its in Bandar Seri Begawan the following year.

In Brunei, Canada is represented by the Canadian High Commission in Bandar Seri Begawan.

Brunei is represented in Canada by a High Commission in Ottawa.

The Monarch of Brunei, His Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu'izzaddin Waddaullah, visited Canada in 1997 to attend the APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting in Vancouver. He was also in Ottawa in September 2000, on a working visit where he met with then-Governor General, Her Excellency the Right Honourable Andrienne Clarkson, and then-Prime Minister, the Right Honourable Jean Chrétien. A number of Canadian cabinet ministers and other Members of Parliament, as well as senior officials, have visited Brunei for bilateral and multilateral meetings. During Brunei's year as APEC Chair in 2000, Canada's then-Foreign Minister, the Honourable John Manley, attended the APEC Economic Leaders Meeting in Brunei in November 2000, in his capacity as the Personal Representative of the Prime Minister of Canada.

Bilateral relations are further strengthened by Canada's Dialogue Partnership with the Association of South East Asian nations (ASEAN); Brunei was Canada's coordinating partner country for ASEAN from July 2003 to June 2006. The two countries also participate in the ASEAN Regional Forum which deals with security issues. Canada and Brunei also share membership in various international forum including APEC, Commonwealth, the World Trade Organization and the United Nations. Brunei is a member of the Trans-Pacific Partnership free trade negotiations, which Canada and Mexico are expected to join in fall 2012. Brunei has worked closely with Canada to help revitalize Canada's relations with the region, and its assistance has been important in organising other key events, including the inaugural Canada-ASEAN Senior Economic Officials' Meeting and Business Forum in Toronto in May 2005.

Canada's trade relationship with Brunei includes commerce across a number of sectors and Brunei continues to be a potential market for Canadian companies, particularly in the following sectors: oil and gas, information and communication technologies (ICT), agriculture and agri-food, environment, and aerospace and education. Canada’s merchandise exports to Brunei in 2011 amounted to $3.7 million, mostly notably in machinery. In 2011, merchandise imports from Brunei to Canada totalled $8.1 million and included organic chemicals, knit apparel, and miscellaneous chemical products.

Viva Pharma of Richmond BC is currently constructing a Halal standard pharmaceutical plant in Brunei. Research in Motion, Waterloo, ON, began BlackBerry service in December, 2010. CAE, the world-leading simulation firm based in Montréal opened a $ national Modeling and Simulation Centre for the Royal Brunei Armed Forces in 2011, and is working with the Brunei government towards establishing a Multi-Purpose Training Centre.As well, Powertech (the research arm of BC Hydro), concluded in 2010 a study on alternative energy for the Brunei government, and Agriteam Canada Consulting signed a contract with the Brunei government to assist in the creation of a Food Development Centre in 2012.

The potential for Canada to expand cooperation in the education sector is high; 600 high school graduates from Brunei per year study overseas on fully funded government scholarships. After two years of participation of Canadian schools in education fairs, the Brunei government sent its first five scholars to Canada in 2011. The Crown Prince focused on this issue during his recent visit, as well as student exchanges.

Minister of Foreign Affairs John Baird visited Brunei in July 2012 and Minister of International Trade Ed Fast visited in February 2012.

August 2012

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Date Modified:
2012-08-21