India and Brunei Darussalam Review Bilateral Trade and Economic Cooperation at Third Joint Trade Committee Meeting
The third meeting of the India–Brunei Darussalam Joint Trade Committee (JTC) was convened to review bilateral trade and economic cooperation and identify avenues for strengthening commercial ties between the two countries. The meeting was co-chaired by Joint Secretary, Department of Commerce, Ministry of Commerce and Industry, India, Shri Amit Verma, and Permanent Secretary (Economy & Trade), Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, Brunei Darussalam, Dr. May Fa'ezah Ahmad Ariffin, with representatives from relevant Ministries, Departments and organisations of both countries participating in the deliberations.
Discussions focused on expanding bilateral trade, addressing market access priorities, and identifying institutional mechanisms to facilitate business-to-business exchanges. Both sides deliberated on facilitating exports of agricultural and animal products from India to Brunei Darussalam, with a view to supporting food security and diversifying trade. Pharmaceuticals, healthcare, and energy were identified as key areas for further cooperation, with exploration of opportunities for regulatory collaboration, procurement, and healthcare services. Discussions on energy covered both traditional and emerging energy partnerships to support sustained industrial growth.
The two sides emphasized strengthening people-to-people ties and commercial outreach through cooperation in tourism and participation in trade fairs and exhibitions. They noted that targeted trade promotion events and reciprocal business delegations could help identify investment opportunities in manufacturing, infrastructure, and services. Both sides reaffirmed their commitment to maintaining regular communication between relevant nodal agencies and working groups to monitor follow-up actions and advance the trade and investment objectives discussed. The next meeting of the India–Brunei Darussalam Joint Trade Committee will be held in Brunei Darussalam.