Technology, digitalisation and innovation will play a defining role in shaping the future of the Islamic economy, as emerging technologies increasingly transform the way Islamic economic activities are conducted worldwide, said Coordinating Minister for Economic Policies and Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry Dato Seri Setia Dr Haji Abdul Manaf bin Haji Metussin, in his capacity as Chairman of Brunei Darussalam Central Bank (BDCB) Board of Directors.
He said this as the guest of honour during the opening ceremony of the Brunei Islamic Economy Conference (BIE-Con) 2026, highlighting the next phase of Brunei Darussalam’s Islamic finance growth.
“In view of this, the central bank has recently amended the Guidelines on the FinTech Regulatory Sandbox to expand participation to licensed financial institutions and encourage the responsible testing of innovative solutions before deployment to the wider market,” he said.
He added that the initiative is expected to further strengthen the competitiveness of Brunei Darussalam’s financial industry and position the Sultanate at the forefront of Islamic fintech.
As Brunei Darussalam advances towards a more diversified and sustainable economy, the need for solutions beyond traditional bank financing will become increasingly important. Scaling sukuk development will be vital to support long-term investment, including large-scale national projects.
The government and the central bank, with support from the industry, are taking steps to advance the Islamic capital market ecosystem through corporate sukuk issuances and a strengthened fund management ecosystem to enhance the sector’s scale and competitiveness, he said.
The minister said the sustainable growth of the Islamic economy depends not only on strong institutions and policies, but also on skilled human capital.
He added that the central bank is developing a Syariah Adviser Competency Framework to expand the pool of qualified Syariah professionals and strengthen local expertise.
He reiterated that the strength of Brunei Darussalam’s Islamic economy depends on building an integrated ecosystem connecting halal industries, Islamic finance, technology, talent and market opportunities to drive innovation and socio-economic development.
Meanwhile, Managing Director of BDCB Hajah Rashidah binti Haji Sabtu, as Chairperson of BILIF, highlighted the role of the Islamic economy as a strategic driver of sustainable, inclusive and values-based national development.
