With 200 guests from Bruneian government, business sector and society, including Diplomatic Corps and German citizens living in Brunei, Ambassador Weert Börner and Dr. Imke Börner hosted a New Year’s Reception. It took place in the wonderfully decorated Royal Berkshire Hall, Royal Brunei Polo and Riding Club in Jerudong where all participants, in a highly communicative atmosphere, enjoyed to celebrate the peaceful beginning of the new year 2026 in Brunei Darussalam.

In his speech, the German Ambassador emphasized the urgency of upholding the rule of law, both domestically and in international relations. “In such times, countries like Brunei and Germany – as different as they may be – have to join forces, have to cooperate more than ever. Our respective well-being - our peace, our freedom, our prosperity – depend on a rules-based international order that limits the power of the strongest, that respects territorial integrity and the right of self-determination of each people. If we want to have a bright future, we have to implement the Paris Climate Agreement, we have to respect the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, and we have to work on more international and regional free-trade agreements, not on less.”

Ambassador Börner also highlighted the need for strengthening the economic ties between Brunei and Germany. “Brunei is in the course of implementing its economic diversification strategy. At the same time, many German companies, most of them SMEs, are searching for new markets and investment options outside of Europe. These endeavours are creating new opportunities for both sides. … I do see good joint business opportunities in the agriculture and food sector, especially in modern food processing, in the build-up of renewable energies, especially solar energy, in environmental technologies, and in ICT and engineering services.”