Brunei Country Commercial Guide
Learn about the market conditions, opportunities, regulations, and business conditions in brunei, prepared by at U.S. Embassies worldwide by Commerce Department, State Department and other U.S. agencies’ professionals
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General Overview

Although Brunei is ranked with the 15th highest internet penetration in the world and the highest in Southeast Asia (95.0 percent, 2021), the e-commerce industry is still in its infancy.  In 2019, the government established a Digital Economy Council to explore the potential of the digital economy industry. The Ministry of Transport and Info-communications published the country’s first Digital Economy Masterplan 2025, which outlines the strategic plans and key projects towards developing a Smart Nation.

Various government agencies have undertaken many initiatives to promote the use of e-commerce. These include enforcement of consumer protection laws by the Department of Economic Planning and Statistics, surveys on consumer attitudes and behaviors towards e-commerce by the Authority for Info-communications Technology Industry (AITI), provision of secure server facilities by the E-Government National Centre (EGNC), and the issuance of Fintech Regulatory Sandbox Guidelines by the Brunei Darussalam Central Bank. Brunei’s central bank has also recently published a Digital Payment Roadmap for the development of the digital payment ecosystem.

Legal & Regulatory

In 2000, Brunei enacted a commercial code for electronic transactions. The Electronic Transactions Act (Chapter 196) is based on the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law (UNCITRAL) Model Law on Electronic Commerce and the Singapore Electronic Transactions Act. The Singapore Act draws heavily from the U.S. Uniform Electronic Transactions Act and aims to encourage business and consumer confidence in e-commerce and provide legal protection for both the buyer and seller. AITI’s E-Business and Market Creation Unit is responsible for promoting e-business opportunities under the country’s 2000 Electric Transactions Order.

Consumer Behavior

According to an e-commerce survey conducted by AITI, 76 percent of Bruneians use e-commerce to shop, bank, and pay bills.  Approximately 57 percent of online shoppers preferred to shop via shopping websites, while 24 percent preferred to shop via social media platforms such as Facebook and Instagram. The top purchases online were apparel and travel services. eCommerce revenues in Brunei Darussalam are expected to have an annual average growth of 10.8 percent by 2025.

Digital Marketing & Social Media

As of 2022, approximately 116.5 percent of the population in Brunei were active social media users. (The figure does not represent unique individuals.)  Instagram and Facebook are Brunei’s most popular social media platform for e-commerce. 

AITI established eKadaiBrunei, a local online directory that lists e-commerce delivery and logistics companies. Some online platforms in Brunei are integrated with online payment capabilities and delivery services. AITI holds an annual Cybershop Fair to showcase the products and services of local e-commerce businesses. 

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Global Business Navigator Chatbot Beta

Welcome to the Global Business Navigator, an artificial intelligence (AI) Chatbot from the International Trade Administration (ITA). This tool, currently in beta version testing, is designed to provide general information on the exporting process and the resources available to assist new and experienced U.S. exporters. The Chatbot, developed using Microsoft’s Azure AI services, is trained on ITA’s export-related content and aims to quickly get users the information they need. The Chatbot is intended to make the benefits of exporting more accessible by understanding non-expert language, idiomatic expressions, and foreign languages.

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As a beta product, the Chatbot is currently being tested and its responses may occasionally produce inaccurate or incomplete information. The Chatbot is trained to decline out of scope or inappropriate requests. The Chatbot’s knowledge is limited to the public information on the Export Solutions web pages of Trade.gov, which covers a wide range of topics on exporting. While it cannot provide responses specific to a company’s product or a specific foreign market, its reference pages will guide you to other relevant government resources and market research. Always double-check the Chatbot’s responses using the provided references or by visiting the Export Solutions web pages on Trade.gov. Do not use its responses as legal or professional advice. Inaccurate advice from the Chatbot would not be a defense to violating any export rules or regulations.

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