India-Brunei JTC meeting: Agri exports, pharma and energy top bilateral trade agenda
Synopsis
At their third Joint Trade Committee meeting in New Delhi, India and Brunei Darussalam moved to formalise trade expansion across agriculture, pharmaceuticals, healthcare, and energy — with the next round set for Brunei. It is a quiet but telling step in India's 'Act East' push to diversify supply chains and deepen ASEAN commercial ties.
Key Takeaways
India and Brunei Darussalam held the third India–Brunei JTC meeting in New Delhi on 14 October 2026 .
Both sides agreed to expand trade in agricultural goods, animal products, pharmaceuticals, healthcare, and energy .
The meeting was co-chaired by India's Amit Verma (Department of Commerce) and Brunei's May Fa'ezah Ahmad Ariffin (Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry).
Cooperation in tourism, trade fairs, and reciprocal business delegations was flagged to strengthen people-to-people and commercial ties.
The next JTC meeting will be held in Brunei Darussalam .
India and Brunei Darussalam on 14 October 2026 agreed to expand bilateral trade across multiple sectors, including agricultural goods, pharmaceutical products, healthcare, and energy, following the third meeting of the India–Brunei Darussalam Joint Trade Committee (JTC) held in New Delhi. The session reviewed existing commercial ties and mapped out institutional mechanisms to deepen economic cooperation between the two nations.
Who Led the Talks
The JTC meeting was co-chaired by Amit Verma, Joint Secretary, Department of Commerce, Ministry of Commerce and Industry, on the Indian side, and May Fa'ezah Ahmad Ariffin, Permanent Secretary, Economy and Trade, Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, representing Brunei Darussalam. Representatives from relevant ministries, departments, and organisations of both countries participated in the deliberations, according to a statement issued by India's Commerce Ministry.
Key Sectors Identified for Cooperation
Discussions centred on facilitating exports of agricultural and animal products from India to Brunei Darussalam, with an explicit focus on supporting Brunei's food security and diversifying the bilateral trade basket. The two sides also identified pharmaceuticals, healthcare, and energy as priority areas. On pharmaceuticals and healthcare, both delegations explored avenues for regulatory collaboration, procurement arrangements, and healthcare services — recognising significant untapped potential in these sectors. Energy talks covered both traditional and emerging energy partnerships to support sustained industrial growth in both countries.
Strengthening People-to-People and Business Ties
Beyond trade in goods, both sides underlined the importance of stronger people-to-people linkages. Cooperation in tourism, participation in trade fairs and exhibitions, and targeted trade promotion events were flagged as practical tools to bridge the business communities of both nations. Reciprocal business delegations were also discussed as a means to surface investment opportunities in manufacturing, infrastructure, and services.
Institutional Follow-Through and What Comes Next
The two countries reaffirmed their commitment to maintaining regular communication between nodal agencies and working groups to monitor follow-up actions stemming from the meeting. Notably, the next JTC meeting is scheduled to be held in Brunei Darussalam, signalling a structured cadence to the bilateral engagement. This comes amid India's broader 'Act East' diplomatic and trade push, which has seen New Delhi deepen commercial ties with ASEAN-bloc nations as a counterweight to regional supply chain volatility.
Point of View
But the sectoral choices — agriculture, pharmaceuticals, energy — are anything but. India is systematically building non-China trade corridors across ASEAN, and Brunei, a high-income hydrocarbon economy with food import dependence, is a natural fit for Indian agri and pharma exporters. The real measure of this meeting's worth will be whether regulatory frameworks for pharmaceutical exports and food safety certifications are actually fast-tracked, or whether they stall in the working-group cycle that has hobbled similar bilateral JTCs with other partners. The next meeting in Brunei is an opportunity to show momentum — not just intent.
NationPress
14 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What was decided at the India–Brunei Darussalam Joint Trade Committee meeting?
At the third JTC meeting held in New Delhi on 14 October 2026, India and Brunei Darussalam agreed to expand bilateral trade in agricultural goods, pharmaceuticals, healthcare, and energy. Both sides also discussed institutional mechanisms to facilitate business-to-business exchanges and investment in manufacturing and infrastructure.
Which sectors are prioritised for India–Brunei trade cooperation?
Pharmaceuticals, healthcare, energy, and agricultural and animal products are the key sectors identified. Energy discussions covered both traditional and emerging partnerships, while pharmaceutical talks focused on regulatory collaboration and procurement arrangements.
Who represented India and Brunei at the JTC meeting?
India was represented by Amit Verma, Joint Secretary, Department of Commerce, Ministry of Commerce and Industry. Brunei Darussalam was represented by May Fa'ezah Ahmad Ariffin, Permanent Secretary, Economy and Trade, Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry.
When and where will the next India–Brunei JTC meeting be held?
The next meeting of the India–Brunei Darussalam Joint Trade Committee will be held in Brunei Darussalam. A specific date has not yet been announced.
How does this fit into India's broader trade strategy?
The engagement is part of India's 'Act East' policy, which prioritises deeper economic ties with ASEAN nations. Expanding agri and pharma exports to Brunei helps India diversify trade relationships while supporting Brunei's food security needs.
