Singapore and Brunei sign agreement and advance three measures for supply resilience.
Singapore and Brunei Darussalam agreed to enhance supply chain resilience and expand economic cooperation at the second Singapore-Brunei Joint Committee Ministerial Meeting (JCMM) on 12 October 2026. Singapore’s Minister-in-charge of Trade Relations, Minister Fu, and Brunei Darussalam’s Coordinating Minister of Economic Policies and Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry, Minister Metussin, co-chaired the meeting to safeguard essential goods supplies and explore opportunities in food security, the green economy and tourism.
The JCMM serves as a bilateral economic platform for both countries to deepen trade and investment ties, support Brunei’s economic diversification and identify new areas of cooperation. This was the first meeting of the committee co-chaired by Minister Fu and Minister Metussin.
During the meeting, both ministers signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on Supply Chain Resilience. The agreement aims to maintain the flow of essential goods during crises and clarifies the goods covered by their commitments under the upgraded ASEAN Trade in Goods Agreement (ATIGA). These include food, crude oil, fuel products, medical supplies and other mutually agreed items.
The ministers also welcomed three practical outcomes. First, the Singapore Food Agency approved one Bruneian establishment to export frozen poultry to Singapore on 19 August 2026, expanding Singapore’s approved sources of poultry imports.
Second, Singapore-based halal food manufacturer Pondok Abang and Brunei’s PDS Abattoir signed a manufacturing and distribution agreement. Pondok Abang will exclusively distribute selected PDS products in Singapore, while PDS will manufacture and distribute selected Pondok Abang products exclusively in Brunei Darussalam. The arrangement creates commercial opportunities for both companies and supports bilateral halal food trade.
Third, both countries completed a tabletop exercise on medical-supplies preparedness on 17 August 2026. The exercise tested arrangements to facilitate the timely movement and acceptance of critical medical supplies during disruptions.
Minister Fu said, “The strong progress achieved under the JCMM demonstrates the breadth and potential of Singapore-Brunei cooperation. From growing our bilateral trade and investment to strengthening supply chain resilience, we are deepening our partnership in ways that support economic resilience, drive sustainable growth, and deliver tangible benefits for our countries and people.”
Singapore and Brunei maintain longstanding bilateral ties, supported by frequent high-level exchanges and the Brunei-Singapore Currency Interchangeability Agreement. According to the supplied press release, Singapore was Brunei’s fourth-largest trading partner in goods in 2025, with bilateral merchandise trade totalling S$2.32 billion.
Source: Singapore Ministry of Energy, Trade and Industry
