INTRODUCTORY - THE WAWASAN 2035

Brunei Darussalam today enjoys one of the highest standards of living in Asia.

Its per capita income is one of the highest in Asia and it has already achieved almost all the target of the Millennium Development Goals.

Its standards of education and health are among the highest in the developing world.

This has been largely the result of political stability created by His Majesty’s Government’s investment of oil and gas revenues in infrastructure and in the development of far-reaching programme of social welfare.

Current prosperity, however, cannot be taken for granted. If the people are to continue to enjoy their high standard of living, planning must take account of a number of emerging social and economic facts.

Although oil and gas resources have contributed much to the nation’s prosperity, economic growth has, on the whole, not kept pace with population growth. The public sector that is the main employer of the majority of the citizens and residents can no longer adequately absorb the growing numbers of young people wishing to enter the work force each year. There is a widening gap between the expectations and capabilities of the nation’s youth and the employment opportunities currently being created. The oil and gas sector that makes up about half of the economy and over 90% of export earnings employs less than 3% of the work force. The local business community continues to be weak and is unable to create the employment opportunities now required.

In order to offer its people a bright and prosperous future, Brunei Darussalam must, therefore, adapt to change and all that this entails by way of ambition, innovation and bold planning.

The challenge facing the nation lies in finding ways to do this successfully whilst, at the same time, upholding the values upon which the nation has developed and progressed.