India and Brunei, which signed three major memorandums of agreement (MoUs) on cooperation in defence, health and youth and sports affairs, also discussed cooperation on fighting terrorism, the current situation in the South China Sea where Brunei is in contention with China over the Spratly Islands, the current crisis in the Middle East and West Asia, including the refugee problem arising in Europe. In a friendly overture, India also decided to extend e-visa facility to citizens of Brunei beginning next month.
The vibrancy in relations was also evident from the fact that the Sultan of Brunei expressed an interest to visit India for which an invite has been extended. This will be his fourth visit since 1992. In addition, the Crown Prince has expressed interest to soon visit India, more specifically related to sports affairs.
Briefing mediapersons soon after the signing of the agreements at which Vice-President Mohammad Hamid Ansari and three ministers from Brunei were present today, Anil Wadhwa, Secretary (East) in the Ministry of External Affairs, said a team of defence officials from Brunei would soon visit India to identify areas that need to be covered both immediately and in the long term.
The MoU on Defence, by far the most high profile, envisages both institutionalising and enhancing bilateral defence cooperation. Future areas of defence cooperation will now include defence industries, joint military exercises, exchanging trainers, training, experience, information and visits of officials at different levels.
India’s current bilateral cooperation comprises ship visits, training of senior military officers in Staff colleges and exchange of experience.
The MoU on health is also significant considering that the highly regarded 155 Indian doctors in this Asean member state play a critical role in local health care. The Sultan expressed his approval of the services of Indian doctors and other professionals such engineers and teachers along with businessmen and traders in the country when Ansari called on him.
It will involve exchanging doctors and other professionals and experts, information, medical and health research development and regulations of pharmaceuticals, medical devices and cosmetics to promote business development in these areas.
The agreement on cooperation in youth and sports affairs involves providing a framework for exchanges of sports persons and sports teams; facilitating the exchange of expertise in coaching, sports talent identification and sports Management and administration.
An investment delegation from India will soon visit Brunei to examine the prospects for production of fertilizers based on gas. The Indian delegation will look at possible sites to set up this facility, examine the availability of gas, evaluate the terms of investment, the rules and regulations and finally decide based on commercial viability.
Brunei is also keen to promote tourism, an interest developed keeping in view that the budget of this country, whose economy is based on oil, has hit a deficit for the first time because of the crash in global oil prices.
Brunei is keen to promote tourism as a means of revenue earning. But its strict control on alcohol consumption and the more recently introduced Sharia law could be an impediment.
