The Government of His Majesty the Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam have signed six agreements with the Government of the Kingdom of Bahrain, further amplifying the diplomatic relations of both countries established since 1988.
The Memorandums of Understanding (MoU) include areas of political consultation, women’s affairs, media, cultural cooperation, general, technical and higher education, and data sovereignty.
The signing was witnessed by His Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu’izzaddin Waddaulah ibni Al-Marhum Sultan Haji Omar ‘Ali Saifuddien Sa’adul Khairi Waddien, Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei
Darussalam and His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa at Gudaibiya Palace in Manama.

1. Political Consultation
The MoU will allow both parties to establish regular consultations on modalities for expanding and deepening cooperation as well as exchanging views on international issues of common interest.
The consultations will be held at the level of Ministers of Foreign Affairs, or at such other level as may be agreed between the parties in advance of each round of the sessions.
The discussions will be held annually or as deemed necessary, alternately in Bandar Seri Begawan and Manama, or in a third state where both parties were present in an international conference or meeting.
Signing on behalf of the Government of His Majesty the Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam was Second Minister of Foreign Affairs Yang Berhormat Dato Seri Setia Haji Erywan Pehin Datu Pekerma Jaya Haji Mohd Yusof while the Government of the Kingdom of Bahrain was by its Minister of Finance and National Economy His Excellency Shaikh Salman Khalifa Al-Khalifa.

2. Women’s Affairs
The agreement will promote the exchange of expertise and successful experiences in the field related to women’s advancement and equal opportunities between men and women, and activate partnership as well as other areas of mutually agreed cooperation such as entrepreneurship development and implementing development programmes according to the priorities of both parties.
The MoU was signed by Minister of Culture, Youth and Sports Yang Berhormat Dato Seri Setia Haji Nazmi Haji Mohamad and Secretary-General of the Supreme Council of Bahrain Her Excellency Hala Mohammed Jaber al-Ansari.

3. Media
The agreement will encourage media cooperation, among others, the exchange of visits of experts, media, and press delegations between Brunei and Bahrain; training courses; research and statistical analyses; media promotion and marketing; as well as the exchange of media content related to political, economic, social, cultural, historical, tourist and sporting topics.
The agreement was signed by Minister at the Prime Minister’s Office and Second Minister of Finance and Economy Yang Berhormat Dato Seri Setia Dr Haji Mohd Amin Liew Abdullah and Bahrain’s Minister of Information His Excellency Dr Ramzan Abdulla Al-Noaimi.

4. Cultural Cooperation
Both parties will encourage the plans to organise “Cultural Weeks” in each other’s country through, among others, music concerts, book fairs and art exhibitions; as well as enhancing cooperation in the fields of sciences, arts and literature, archaeology, musicological practices, ethnology and conservation.
On hand to sign the MoU was Minister of Culture, Youth and Sports Yang Berhormat Dato Seri Setia Haji Nazmi Haji Mohamad and Bahrain’s Minister of Information His Excellency Dr Ramzan Abdulla Al-Noaimi.

5. General, Technical and Higher Education
Under the agreement, the parties will, subject to the laws and national policies, and the availability of funds and resources, support exchanges of educational information and material, as well as visits and expertise in education programmes; and participation in or joint organisation of workshops, conferences, seminars, symposium and educational events agreed upon by both countries.
The MoU was signed by Minister of Education Yang Berhormat Datin Seri Setia Dr Hajah Romaizah Haji Md Salleh and Bahrain’s Minister of Education His Excellency Dr Mohamed Mubarak Juma.

6. Data Sovereignty Initiative
The document aims to develop cooperation in the field of Information and Communication Technology and, based on the firm ties binding both countries, Bahrain grants Brunei sovereignty over the information and data of its entities hosted in any of the cloud computing centers located in Bahrain.
The agreement was signed by Minister at the Prime Minister’s Office and Second Minister of Finance and Economy Yang Berhormat Dato Seri Setia Dr Haji Mohd Amin Liew Abdullah and Bahrain’s Minister of Finance and National Economy His Excellency Shaikh Salman Khalifa Al-Khalifa.

Upon arrival at the palace, His Majesty the Sultan was welcomed by His Majesty King Hamad and proceeded to the royal dais to receive the salute of honour accompanied by the national anthems of both countries, along with a twenty-one-gun salute.
Accompanying His Majesty was His Royal Highness Prince ‘Abdul Mateen.
His Majesty was then introduced to dignitaries from Bahrain, and His Majesty King of Bahrain was introduced to the official delegation from Brunei.


Moreover, the monarch attended the state banquet and high tea hosted by King Hamad and other members of the royal family at the Gudaibiya Palace.
His Majesty the Sultan also attended a dinner reception hosted by His Royal Highness Prince Salman Hamad Al Khalifa, the Crown Prince and Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Bahrain.
The monarch was on a state visit to Bahrain from 9 until 11 June 2023.

THE BRUNEIAN | BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN