Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah, the twenty-ninth head of a royal dynasty that dates back some 600 years, has remained committed to the consolidation of his political rule. Although the head of one of Asia's oldest royal houses, the Sultan is visibly aware that social stability and, by extension, the political status quo in Brunei is at risk in the event of any severe deterioration of living standards. Rising unemployment, continuous failure to attract foreign investment, little sign of growth in the private sector and limitations on government-initiated economic generation, combine to create a sense of economic unease. Oil and gas are the core focus of the government. Brunei Shell Petroleum (BSP) dominance over Brunei's oil industry appears to be ending. Brunei is opening up 10,000 square km of deep-water fields for oil exploration, which will double the area currently under concession.
World of Information Business Intelligence Reports allow access to concise, clear coverage of current political and economic developments in over 100 countries. Alongside contributions from journalists and regional experts from around the world, they contain a wide variety of sectoral analysis and background information. Each Report contains an introductory overview commissioned from one of World of Information's network of contributors, an extensive list of key facts and features of the country, including macroeconomic indicators and details regarding national population, labour market and public services. The economy section focuses on monetary, fiscal and trade conditions before analysing sectoral, infrastructure and regulatory developments. Natural resources including agriculture and minerals, industry and service sectors are covered. A five-year table of key indicators invaluable for research into economic trends accompanies the report.
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