Australian TV business programme The Airport Economist has aired an episode focused on Brunei’s efforts to diversify its economy on the streaming platform Ticker on December 4, 2025.
The episode, titled The Great Transformation of Brunei, sees host Tim Harcourt, Chief Economist and Industry Professor at the University of Technology Sydney, explore the country’s diversification journey and the role of foreign investment in achieving its goal of creating a dynamic and sustainable economy under its national vision, Wawasan 2035.
An interview with the Minister at the Prime Minister’s Office, Second Minister of Finance and Economy, and Brunei Economic Development Board (BEDB) Chairman, Yang Berhormat Dato Seri Setia Dr Awg Hj Md Amin Liew Abdullah, introduces the diversification agenda through the economic blueprint and its five priority sectors: downstream oil and gas, food, services, tourism, and ICT.
Interviews with leading companies in these sectors—Hengyi Industries, Brunei Fertilizer Industries (BFI), Royal Brunei Airlines (RB), and Royal Brunei Catering (RBC)—provide viewers with a closer look at the diversification plan in action through the lens of their operations.
As Brunei’s focal agency for foreign and domestic investment, BEDB served as the episode’s knowledge partner, providing insights into the country’s business and regulatory environment, as well as the dedicated support and relationship management offered under their Investors’ Concierge service.
A platform for promoting FDI and bilateral investments
Australian High Commissioner to Brunei His Excellency Luke Arnold, whose mission was a supporting partner for the episode, said the programme provides valuable insights into Brunei’s economic context and potential opportunities for foreign investors.
Headquartered in Australia, Ticker’s platform has a strong foothold with its local audience. Additionally, through its international distribution, Harcourt said Ticker collectively reaches over 380 million viewers, garnering 3.85 million monthly linear views, providing significant exposure for Brunei on a global scale.
The episode’s release is also timely, given the wider backdrop of Brunei and Australia elevating their bilateral relationship to a Comprehensive Partnership last year, as well as Australia unveiling its Southeast Asia Economic Strategy to 2040, which includes an AUD 2 billion fund for Australian investment into ASEAN.
“We’ve established a dedicated ‘deals team’ in Bandar Seri Begawan to facilitate Australian investment in Brunei,” His Excellency Arnold said. “This team consists of two full-time employees focused on bringing more Australian businesses into the country.”
The High Commissioner noted that while Australia is one of Brunei’s top export markets and Brunei imports premium food products from Australia, the investment relationship has yet to reach its potential.
“A key focus for the bilateral relationship moving forward is to increase two-way investment, particularly as both countries embark on major economic transformations to seize opportunities associated with the global transition to greener economies,” he added.
Speaking of his experience recording in the Sultanate, Harcourt said “Brunei provides stability and certainty which foreign investors value.”
“Witnessing the country’s transformation first-hand, especially in emerging industries like fertilisers and the Halal food hub, was fascinating,” he added. “Brunei has a clear vision for the future and is a welcoming society.”
The full episode is split into three segments and is being shown on Ticker’s’ 24-hour news channel for one month. Additionally, a dedicated Brunei section has been uploaded to The Airport Economist’s on-demand channel on Ticker, featuring nine segments, including extended interviews and insights for business travellers.
The Airport Economist was originally a book authored by Harcourt, offering practical insights on doing business in various countries, drawing on his experience as Chief Economist at the Australian Trade and Investment Commission (Austrade).
Since its launch as a TV series in 2016, it has profiled over 30 countries, including those in ASEAN and Latin America, as well as Japan, South Korea and China. RB and The Empire were also supporting partners of the Brunei episode.