AGP Executive Report

China–ASEAN Expo: The 23rd China–ASEAN Expo (Sept 17–21, Nanning) is set to expand its high-tech showcase, with 170,000 sq m of space and about 3,300 enterprises expected to participate. Education & Skills: Brunei placed top three in ASEAN for PISA 2025 Mathematics and Science, and ranked second in Reading, while the wider world saw reading and math performance drop sharply. Local Tech & AI Infrastructure: Vobile signed agreements with Brunei’s UNN to build AI-ready infrastructure and “AI factories” in Brunei. Cybersecurity Skills Gap: Fortinet’s Jess Ng (Singapore and Brunei) highlights a persistent cybersecurity skills shortage and warns that underfunding training and incident readiness leaves teams stretched. Digital Economy: UNN and Vobile also framed the partnership as a boost to Brunei’s digital economy capabilities. Environment: Indonesia’s fires and haze again pushed ASEAN alerts to Level 3, affecting Malaysia and Brunei and testing cross-border coordination. Mobility: Honda Brunei launched the all-new ZR-V hybrid SUV and the Super-ONE EV, bringing new e-mobility options to the local market.

Education & Skills: Brunei placed among ASEAN’s top three in PISA 2025—second in Reading and top spots in Mathematics and Science—while the wider world saw a sharp drop in reading and maths, with OECD reporting declines since 2015 and “collapse” concerns. AI in Schools: Thailand’s PISA results show heavy AI use (over OECD average) alongside gaps in staying focused during lessons and shortages of teachers/materials. Digital Economy in Brunei: UNN and Vobile signed agreements to build AI-ready infrastructure and “AI factories” in Brunei, aiming to strengthen the local digital economy. Cyber Workforce: Fortinet’s skills-gap report highlights a hiring and training mismatch across Asia-Pacific, including Singapore and Brunei, where cybersecurity is often treated as a cost rather than a financial priority. Health & Safety Online: A toxics watchdog in the Philippines warns of mercury-laced skin lighteners being promoted and sold online despite bans. Regional Environment: Indonesia’s haze cycle continues, with ASEAN raising alerts as smoke crosses borders, including impacts felt in Brunei and Malaysia. Mobility & Local Tech: Honda Brunei launched the all-new ZR-V hybrid SUV and Super-ONE EV, pushing electric mobility into the local market.

Education & Skills: The OECD’s PISA 2025 results show a global slide in reading and maths, with reading falling most sharply since 2015; Brunei is highlighted as an ASEAN top performer in Mathematics and Science, and second in Reading. Local Education Spotlight: Brunei’s Ministry of Education says the country ranked among ASEAN’s top three in Mathematics and Science and second in Reading, based on PISA 2025 participation by over 5,000 students. Regional Tech & Cyber Skills: Fortinet’s report flags a cybersecurity skills gap across Asia-Pacific and warns that many organisations treat security as a cost, deferring training and readiness work. Digital Infrastructure in Brunei: UNN signs agreements with Vobile to build AI-ready infrastructure and “AI factories” in Brunei, aiming to strengthen the digital economy. E-Mobility Update: Honda Brunei launches the all-new ZR-V hybrid SUV and the Super-ONE EV, pushing electric mobility locally. Environment & Public Health: Indonesian wildfires and haze continue to affect Malaysia and Brunei, with ASEAN raising haze alerts as smoke worsens air quality and disrupts schools. Trade & Policy: India and Thailand discuss a review of the ASEAN-India trade pact, while ASEAN-Pakistan business leaders call for more structured, result-oriented economic partnerships.

Education Data Shock: OECD PISA 2025 results show a sharp worldwide drop in reading and math, with Iceland hitting the steepest decline since 2015; Local Spotlight: Brunei placed among ASEAN’s top three in Mathematics and Science, and second in Reading, based on 5,000+ students tested in 2025; Regional Environment: Indonesia’s wildfire haze continues to spill into Brunei and Malaysia, with Malaysia declaring an emergency in Serian, Sarawak after air pollution hit “hazardous” levels and triggering school closures plus cloud-seeding efforts; Brunei Mobility: Honda Brunei rolled out the all-new ZR-V hybrid SUV and the Super-ONE EV, while Toyota introduced the all-electric Urban Cruiser BEV with up to 426km range; Digital Economy in Brunei: UNN and Vobile signed agreements to build AI-ready infrastructure and “AI factories” in Brunei; Public Health Watch: A toxics watchdog in the region flagged online sales of mercury-laced banned skin lighteners during peak e-commerce sales.

ASEAN–Pakistan Trade Push: The Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry hosted ASEAN Day, with diplomats and business leaders urging a stronger, more structured, result-oriented economic partnership—highlighting private-sector links, market access, and institutional cooperation as ASEAN and Pakistan look to expand trade beyond about USD 10 billion. Regional Haze Crisis: Indonesia’s fires are again choking parts of Southeast Asia, with smoke drifting across borders and prompting haze alerts; Malaysia has declared an emergency in Serian, Sarawak, closing 647 schools and running cloud-seeding to reduce pollution. Education Signals from PISA 2025: New PISA results show the Philippines’ gains in science, math, and reading, but still below baseline proficiency for many students—while the wider OECD picture flags a long-term slide, especially in reading. Brunei Digital Economy Move: Vobile and Brunei’s UNN signed agreements to build AI-ready infrastructure, positioning the partnership as more than a standard provider deal for Brunei’s digital growth. Local Mobility Updates: Honda Brunei rolled out the all-new ZR-V hybrid SUV and Super-ONE EV in Gadong, while Toyota Brunei introduced the Urban Cruiser BEV with up to 426km range. Travel Tech in Brunei: Sabre Travel Network Brunei announced the 21st Sabre Brunei Travel Fair (12–13 Sept), using dozens of workstations to support real-time bookings for travel agencies. AI/Tech Events & Safety: The week also included calls for stronger online controls after reports of banned mercury-laced skin lighteners being sold via social platforms.

Brunei Electric Mobility: Honda Brunei rolled out the all-new Honda ZR-V (hybrid with EV/Hybrid/Engine drive switching) and the fully electric Honda Super-ONE EV, spotlighting power, efficiency and local e-mobility options. Brunei Digital Economy: Vobile and UNN signed strategic cooperation to build AI-ready infrastructure and “AI factories” in Brunei, aiming to strengthen the nation’s digital capabilities. Education Watch: New PISA 2025 results show a global slide in reading and math, while the Philippines posted its biggest science, math and reading gains since joining PISA—yet many students still sit below baseline proficiency. Connectivity Costs: Broadband Genie ranked the UK 46th for average mobile broadband data cost at about $0.27 per 1GB, with big caveats on how tariffs are compared. Regional Environment: Indonesia’s wildfires and haze continue to choke parts of Southeast Asia, with Malaysia declaring an emergency in Sarawak’s Serian and cloud-seeding efforts underway. Health & Safety Online: A toxics watchdog group condemned online sales of banned mercury-laced skin lighteners, urging platforms to block promotions. STEM & Research in the Region: Nuklear Malaysia partnered with MADA to apply nuclear science for smarter padi cultivation, including water monitoring and isotope-based pest and disease tracking.

Brunei Digital Economy: Vobile has signed strategic cooperation and commercial agreements with Brunei’s UNN to build AI-ready infrastructure, positioning the partnership as more than a customer-provider deal for Brunei’s digital growth. Public Health & Safety: Malaysia declared an emergency in Serian, Sarawak as haze from Indonesia’s wildfires pushed air pollution to hazardous levels, closing 647 schools and triggering cloud-seeding efforts. Environment & Climate: Indonesia’s wildfire smoke continues to choke parts of Southeast Asia, with major emissions and school disruptions reported as fires burn across Borneo and Sumatra. Biotech & Standards: Wooree Group says “scientific validation should come before” liposome health claims, calling for clearer industry standards after showcasing its liposome validation framework at Vitafoods Asia 2026. Health Tech Access: Alpro Pharmacy, Sandoz Malaysia and Doc2Us launched ACCESS360 to improve stroke prevention access, affordability and continuous care via community pharmacy and digital health support. Mobility in Brunei: Toyota Brunei introduced the all-electric Urban Cruiser BEV, touting up to 426km range and modern safety and tech features. Travel Tech: Sabre Travel Network (Brunei) will run the 21st Sabre Brunei Travel Fair with real-time booking support for travel agencies.

Digital Economy & AI Infrastructure: UNN and Vobile signed cooperation deals to build “AI-ready” infrastructure in Brunei, with the partnership framed as more than a vendor relationship and aimed at boosting the local digital economy. Health & Consumer Safety: The EcoWaste Coalition condemned the online sale of mercury-laced skin lighteners (Goree Beauty Cream), urging e-commerce and social platforms to block promotions tied to banned products. Biotech Standards: Wooree Group wrapped up Vitafoods Asia 2026 and pushed for clearer scientific validation standards for liposome-labelled health products, warning that “liposomal” claims can be made without objective benchmarks. Electric Mobility (Brunei): Toyota Brunei launched the all-electric Toyota Urban Cruiser BEV, touting up to 426km range and modern safety/tech for compact-SUV buyers. Regional Environment & Public Health: Indonesia’s wildfire haze continues to disrupt the region, with Malaysia declaring an emergency in Serian, Sarawak, closing hundreds of schools and expanding cloud-seeding to reduce smoke. Travel Tech (Brunei): Sabre Travel Network Brunei announced the 21st Sabre Brunei Travel Fair, using dozens of workstations to support real-time bookings for travel agencies. Nuclear for Agriculture (Malaysia): Nuklear Malaysia and MADA partnered to apply nuclear science to water management, smart padi cultivation, and isotope-based monitoring for pests and crop diseases.

Biotech Standards: Wooree Group wrapped Vitafoods Asia 2026 in Bangkok, pushing for tougher scientific validation before products are marketed as “liposomal,” with its liposome tech and bio value chain earning a sustainability booth award. Regional Infrastructure & AI: A Singapore summit on Belt and Road infrastructure backed SDG-linked projects, including responsible AI, energy transition, resilient supply chains, and sustainable digital infrastructure partnerships. Health Tech & Prevention: Tucker Medical and GE HealthCare announced a new MRI collaboration in Singapore to support personalized, risk-informed screening and preventive care across Southeast Asia. Brunei EV Launch: Toyota Brunei introduced the all-new Urban Cruiser BEV at Toyota Gadong, touting up to 426km range and modern safety/tech for local drivers. Travel Tech in Brunei: Sabre Travel Network Brunei will run the 21st Sabre Brunei Travel Fair (12–13 Sept) with real-time booking support via dozens of workstations and laptops. Haze Crisis Watch: Indonesia’s wildfires and El Niño-linked dry conditions are driving hazardous smoke across Borneo and beyond, with Malaysia declaring an emergency in Serian, Sarawak, and school closures plus cloud-seeding to push for rain. Digital Payments for Tourism: Malaysia’s TNG eWallet reported over RM1b in inbound tourist spend during Visit Malaysia 2026, highlighting QR-based access for smaller merchants. Financial Literacy: Brunei launched National Financial Literacy Day 2026 to boost responsible habits, including digital financial literacy.

Regional Air Quality Crisis: Malaysia declared an emergency in Serian, Sarawak after Indonesia’s wildfire haze pushed the Air Pollutant Index to 521, triggering school closures (647 schools) and suspending non-essential work while cloud-seeding operations aim to bring rain. Cross-Border Fire Impact: Reports say thick smog from Borneo and Sumatra is worsening respiratory problems and forcing schools to close across the region, with Indonesia’s fires linked to El Niño–driven dry conditions and ongoing land-clearing practices. Brunei Mobility Update: Toyota Brunei launched the all-electric Urban Cruiser BEV at the Gadong showroom, touting up to 426km range and 172hp/193Nm for compact-SUV EV buyers. Brunei Tech & Travel Industry: Sabre Travel Network (Brunei) will run the 21st Sabre Brunei Travel Fair (12–13 Sept) with 90+ booths and real-time booking support for travel agencies. Local Digital Finance Push: Brunei’s Central Bank kicked off National Financial Literacy Day 2026, highlighting the growing need for digital financial literacy alongside access to services. Health Tech in the Region: Alpro Pharmacy, Sandoz Malaysia and Doc2Us launched ACCESS360 to improve stroke prevention access, affordability, and continuous patient support.

Brunei Electric Mobility: Toyota Brunei has launched the all-new Toyota Urban Cruiser BEV at its Gadong showroom, offering up to 426km range, 172hp and 193Nm torque, plus modern tech and safety features. Regional Haze Crisis: Malaysia declared an emergency in Serian, Sarawak after Indonesia-linked smoke pushed the Air Pollutant Index above 500, closing 647 schools and triggering cloud-seeding to encourage rainfall. Air Quality Monitoring in Action: Indonesia’s wildfire haze is worsening across borders, with satellite and monitoring data pointing to massive emissions and hazardous conditions affecting health and school operations. Health Tech & Stroke Prevention: Alpro Pharmacy, Sandoz Malaysia and Doc2Us launched ACCESS360 to improve stroke prevention access, affordability, and continuous patient support via digital health and education. Aviation MRO R&D Push: GTA Holdings plans a Centre of Excellence to boost R&D, training and technology transfer in Malaysia’s MRO sector, including exploration of advanced test-bench equipment. Travel Industry Tech: Sabre Travel Network (Brunei) will run the 21st Sabre Brunei Travel Fair (12–13 Sept 2026) with 90+ booths and real-time booking support for travel agencies. Payments for Tourism: TNG eWallet reported over RM1 billion in inbound tourist spend during Visit Malaysia 2026, highlighting DuitNow QR access for smaller merchants. Nuclear for Agriculture: Nuklear Malaysia and MADA partnered to apply nuclear science to hydrology, groundwater monitoring, smart agrotechnology and isotope-based pest/disease monitoring.

Haze Emergency in Sarawak: Malaysia declared an emergency in Serian, Sarawak after Indonesia’s wildfire smoke pushed the Air Pollutant Index above 500, forcing 647 schools and many workplaces to close and triggering a cloud-seeding push to bring rain. Regional Air-Quality Crisis: Multiple reports track how Borneo and Sumatra fires are driving hazardous haze across Malaysia, Singapore and the Philippines, with hundreds of thousands of hectares burned and carbon emissions spiking as El Niño conditions intensify. Brunei EV Launch: Toyota Brunei introduced the all-new Toyota Urban Cruiser BEV, touting up to 426km range and modern safety/tech for compact-SUV electric mobility. Brunei-Linked Aviation Tech Push (Malaysia): GTA Holdings plans a Centre of Excellence to boost MRO R&D, training and tech transfer, including work on specialised test-bench equipment. Health Tech in the Region: GE HealthCare and Tucker Medical in Singapore expanded MRI capabilities and plans for clinical education and imaging collaboration across Southeast Asia. Digital Payments & Tourism (Malaysia): TNG eWallet reported over RM1b in inbound tourist spend during Visit Malaysia 2026, driven by QR payments that reach smaller merchants. STEM/Research in Agriculture (Malaysia): Nuklear Malaysia and MADA partnered to apply nuclear science for smarter padi farming, including water monitoring, isotope work and IoT-enabled agrotechnology. Brunei Financial Literacy: Brunei’s Central Bank launched National Financial Literacy Day 2026 to strengthen digital financial know-how and responsible habits. Travel Tech Event: Sabre Travel Network (Brunei) announced the 21st Sabre Brunei Travel Fair, with real-time booking support for travel agencies.

Air Quality Emergency: Malaysia declared an emergency in Serian, Sarawak after Indonesia’s wildfire haze pushed the Air Pollutant Index to hazardous levels, closing 647 schools and triggering cloud-seeding to help clear smoke. Regional Health & Tech: Singapore also warned haze may worsen in coming weeks, while Indonesia’s crisis is even driving school closures and remote learning—raising questions about digital readiness in the hardest-hit districts. Brunei Mobility: Toyota Brunei launched the all-new Toyota Urban Cruiser BEV, a compact electric SUV rated up to 426km range with 172hp and 193Nm, unveiled at the Toyota Gadong showroom. Defence & Training Links: U.S. Pacific Command chief Admiral Samuel J Paparo held meetings at the Indo-Pacific Chiefs of Defence Conference, including engagement with Brunei, as PACIFIC ANGEL 26-1 continues search-and-rescue training in Brunei. Health Innovation: Alpro Pharmacy, Sandoz Malaysia and Doc2Us launched ACCESS360 to improve stroke prevention access, affordability and continuous digital care. Local Industry & R&D: GTA Holdings plans a Centre of Excellence after listing on Bursa Malaysia’s ACE Market to boost MRO R&D, training and defence-industry self-reliance. Payments for Tourism: TNG eWallet reported over RM1 billion in inbound tourist spend during Visit Malaysia 2026, highlighting DuitNow QR access for smaller merchants.

Transboundary Haze Crisis: Malaysia declared an emergency in Serian, Sarawak after Indonesia-linked smoke pushed the Air Pollutant Index to 521, with Kuching also hitting hazardous levels; Indonesia deployed firefighting and suspended licences tied to fires, as the region braces for worsening conditions. Regional Air-Quality Monitoring & Policy: Singapore warned haze could affect the city-state in coming weeks, while Malaysia proposed a science-diplomacy and sustainable haze fund to strengthen ASEAN’s transboundary haze response. Wildfires’ Human Impact: Indonesia’s wildfire season has triggered school closures for 1.43 million students via air-quality thresholds, raising questions about whether remote-learning infrastructure exists in the hardest-hit districts. Brunei Tech & Travel Industry: Sabre Travel Network (Brunei) will host the 21st Sabre Brunei Travel Fair (12–13 Sept) with 90+ booths and real-time booking support for agencies, aiming to boost inbound and outbound demand ahead of Visit Brunei Year 2027. Digital Health for Stroke Prevention: ACCESS360 launched in Malaysia to improve affordable stroke prevention through community pharmacy support, digital health, and patient education. Nuclear for Agriculture: Nuklear Malaysia and MADA partnered to apply nuclear science to water monitoring, soil and nutrient management, and smart agrotechnology for padi cultivation. Financial Literacy Push: Brunei’s National Financial Literacy Day 2026 kicked off (2 Sept) to strengthen digital financial know-how and responsible habits. ASEAN Tech & Trade: CPTPP full access expands for UK businesses after Canada’s ratification, with Brunei included among member economies.

Digital Health & Prevention: Alpro Pharmacy, Sandoz Malaysia and Doc2Us launched ACCESS360 to help Malaysians at risk of stroke access affordable treatment, connect with healthcare professionals and stay on medication through continuous support. Nuclear for Agriculture: Nuklear Malaysia partnered with MADA to apply nuclear science for water and soil monitoring, smart padi cultivation, and isotope-based pest and crop disease tracking. Regional Haze & Air Quality: Indonesia’s wildfire smoke pushed air pollution to hazardous levels, triggering school closures and prompting Singapore warnings; Malaysia also reported hazardous readings in Sarawak as haze risk continues across borders. Medical Imaging Collaboration: Tucker Medical and GE HealthCare signed an MoU to expand personalized preventive care across Southeast Asia, supported by a SIGNA 1.5T MRI installation in Singapore. Tourism Payments Tech: TNG eWallet said international tourists spent over RM1 billion in the first six months of Visit Malaysia 2026, boosted by DuitNow QR access for small merchants. Brunei Tech & Capacity Building: Brunei and the Philippines agreed to strengthen judicial education and cooperation, including training on AI, cybercrime and cross-border legal issues. Cybersecurity & Fines: Vietnam introduced new decrees expanding police powers over online speech, data and internet access, with larger penalties and cybersecurity force incentives. Trade & Regional Tech Policy: ASEAN is set to sign the Digital Economy Framework Agreement at a summit in November, covering data governance, AI cooperation, digital identity, cybersecurity and digital trade. Science & Industry Events: Seafood Expo Asia/Seafood Processing Asia opened in Singapore with Brunei’s Department of Fisheries among new country participants, highlighting tech and supply-chain innovation.

Nuclear for Farming: Malaysia’s Nuclear Agency (Nuklear Malaysia) and MADA signed an MoU to use nuclear science for padi productivity, including groundwater monitoring, irrigation integrity checks, isotope-based pest and disease tracking, and smart agrotechnology using IoT. Regional Business Push: Sabah Chief Minister Hajiji Noor said the state wants to become a Borneo-to-ASEAN business gateway by expanding networks and market access through BIMP-EAGA and wider global links. Healthcare Imaging Link-Up: Tucker Medical in Singapore installed a GE HealthCare SIGNA 1.5T MRI and inked an MoU to expand clinical education, research support, and imaging know-how across Southeast Asia. Tourism Payments Surge: TNG eWallet reported over RM1 billion in inbound tourist spend during Visit Malaysia 2026’s first six months, with retail and F&B dominating and cross-border DuitNow QR helping small merchants accept payments. Haze Crisis Watch: Indonesian Borneo wildfires continue to drive hazardous smoke across the region, with officials warning El Niño conditions could worsen in September and monitoring data showing very unhealthy to hazardous air in parts of the Philippines. Brunei Tech & Skills: Brunei’s National Financial Literacy Day 2026 kicked off Sept 2 with a push for stronger digital financial literacy, while the Philippines and Brunei Supreme Courts signed MoUs to boost judicial education—explicitly including emerging issues like AI, cybercrime, and climate-related disputes.