India and Brunei Darussalam have agreed to strengthen bilateral trade and economic cooperation following the third meeting of their Joint Trade Committee (JTC), held to explore new business opportunities and improve market access.
The meeting was co-chaired by Amit Verma, Joint Secretary in India’s Department of Commerce, and Dr May Fa’ezah Ahmad Ariffin, Permanent Secretary (Economy and Trade) at Brunei Darussalam’s Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry. Officials from relevant ministries and organisations of both countries participated in the discussions.
A key focus was facilitating Indian exports of agricultural and animal products to Brunei to support food security and diversify bilateral trade. Both sides also explored ways to address market access challenges and establish mechanisms to promote business-to-business exchanges.
Pharmaceuticals, healthcare and energy were identified as priority sectors for expanded cooperation. Discussions covered regulatory collaboration, procurement opportunities and healthcare services, alongside traditional and emerging energy partnerships aimed at supporting industrial growth.
The two countries also discussed strengthening commercial engagement through tourism cooperation, trade fairs, exhibitions and reciprocal business delegations. These initiatives are expected to help businesses identify investment opportunities in manufacturing, infrastructure and services.
Both sides reaffirmed their commitment to maintaining regular communication between relevant agencies and working groups to monitor progress and advance agreed trade and investment priorities.
The next meeting of the India–Brunei Darussalam Joint Trade Committee will be held in Brunei Darussalam, providing another opportunity to review progress and identify further areas of cooperation.
The latest engagement reflects both countries’ efforts to deepen economic ties and create new opportunities for exporters, investors and businesses across key sectors.