Why in news
Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Visit will visit Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei, and Singapore, with main Focus on Strengthening trade and technological ties.
Brunei-India relations
PM Modi will meet Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah, the world’s longest reigning monarch, and sign an MoU on space cooperation to build on their 2018 satellite tracking agreement.
Bilateral trade has been around $500 million, but it has declined recently.
India is discussing increasing its intake of LNG from Brunei and exploring initial defence cooperation.
Brunei, centrally located in the Indo-Pacific, is important for India's Act East Policy and outreach to maritime neighbors.
Brunei and India share cultural ties, with Brunei having a moderate religious philosophy that aligns with India's interests
Brunei
Brunei, is a country in Southeast Asia, situated on the northern coast of the island of Borneo.
Apart from its coastline on the South China Sea, it is completely surrounded by the Malaysian state of Sarawak
Brunei is the only sovereign state entirely on Borneo; the remainder of the island is divided between Malaysia and Indonesia.
The capital and largest city of Bandar Seri Begawan.
Islam is the state religion of the country
The government of Brunei is a constitutional absolute monarchy ruled by the Sultan
COMMENTS