AGP Executive Report

Conservation & Climate: A new study links Cyclone Senyar in Sumatra to the deaths of at least 58 critically endangered Tapanuli orangutans—about 7% of the species—after four days of extreme rain, flooding and landslides, with researchers warning the real toll could be higher as habitat damage continues. Cybersecurity: Fortinet has launched a Singapore cloud PoP for its FortiNDR network detection and response, aiming to improve threat visibility and faster response across ASEAN as cloud and hybrid adoption grows. Brunei Innovation Ecosystem: Universiti Brunei Darussalam relaunched its Start-Up Center and Entrepreneurship Village to help students, alumni and researchers turn ideas into viable businesses. Education & STEM: Brunei-linked regional coverage highlights Sarawak’s push to fund mission schools and embed STEM initiatives, including a RM120 million allocation for upgrades and mission school support. Regional Tech & Research: APEC’s China Studies Scholars Forum convened 100+ experts from 16 economies, including Brunei, to discuss shared development challenges ahead of November APEC meetings.

Education & STEM Funding: Sarawak Premier Abang Johari says mission schools remain key to building a skilled workforce, with RM120 million approved this year under the SDAF—RM30 million earmarked for mission schools and STEM initiatives. Cybersecurity for ASEAN: Fortinet launched a Singapore NDR cloud PoP to bring network detection and response closer to customers, aiming to improve visibility and faster threat response across hybrid and cloud environments. Conservation & Climate Impacts: A study says Indonesia’s 2025 Sumatra floods and landslides killed at least 58 critically endangered Tapanuli orangutans—about 7% of the species—linking the disaster to more intense extreme rainfall. Brunei Innovation Ecosystem: Universiti Brunei Darussalam relaunched its Start-Up Center and Entrepreneurship Village to help students and young entrepreneurs develop, test, and scale new ventures. Regional Connectivity: Sarawak’s Guangzhou–Kuching direct flight (Batik Air) is reported to be drawing strong demand, highlighting the value of direct air links for tourism and business ties. ASEAN Diplomacy & Investment: ASEAN diplomats visited Bangladesh’s BSEZ, signalling interest in expanding regional investment and industrial cooperation.

Cybersecurity in ASEAN: Fortinet launched a Singapore cloud PoP to bring network detection and response closer to customers, aiming to cut alert overload and improve visibility across on-prem, cloud and hybrid environments. Conservation + climate tech: A new study says Indonesia’s 2025 Sumatra floods and landslides killed at least 58 critically endangered Tapanuli orangutans—about 7% of the species—using satellite imagery and past population records, with human-driven climate change linked to more extreme rainfall. Regional investment tech/industry: ASEAN diplomats visited Bangladesh’s Special Economic Zone (BSEZ), touring factories and discussing incentives, infrastructure and ways to expand industrial cooperation with modern production tech. Brunei-linked education innovation: UBD relaunched its Start-Up Center and Entrepreneurship Village to help students and young entrepreneurs turn ideas into scalable businesses. Brunei-area heritage research: Sarawak moved to gazette a rare 16th-century Arabic manuscript tied to Sultan Tengah and nominate it for UNESCO’s “Memory of the World,” with transliteration and translation work led by regional research teams. Space/energy connectivity angle: Sarawak highlighted its push toward a “hybrid petro-electro” future, pairing gas with renewables, hydrogen and carbon absorption.

APEC & Research Diplomacy: The APEC Economies China Studies Scholars Forum opened in Guangzhou with 100+ experts from 16 economies, including Brunei, focusing on shared Asia-Pacific development and tackling global challenges ahead of November’s APEC meetings. Cybersecurity for ASEAN: Fortinet launched a Singapore FortiNDR Cloud PoP to bring cloud-delivered network detection and response closer to customers across the region, aiming to improve visibility and speed up incident response. Conservation + Climate Science: A Brunei-based Borneo Futures-led study found Indonesia’s Sumatra floods and landslides killed at least 58 critically endangered Tapanuli orangutans—about 7% of the species—using satellite damage analysis and linking higher extreme rainfall risk to human-driven climate change. Brunei-linked Regional Tech/Innovation: Universiti Brunei Darussalam relaunched its Start-Up Center and Entrepreneurship Village to support students, researchers and young entrepreneurs with resources to test and scale ideas. ASEAN Investment Moves: ASEAN diplomats visited Bangladesh’s BSEZ, touring manufacturing sites and discussing incentives, infrastructure and expanding regional industrial cooperation.

ASEAN Investment Push: An 18-member ASEAN Dhaka Committee delegation visited Bangladesh Special Economic Zone (BSEZ), touring factories and discussing incentives, infrastructure, and ways to deepen regional industrial cooperation. Wildlife & Climate Impact: A new study says Cyclone Senyar’s floods and landslides in Indonesia’s Sumatra killed at least 58 critically endangered Tapanuli orangutans—about 7% of the species—linking the disaster to more intense extreme rainfall likely worsened by climate change. Cybersecurity for ASEAN: Fortinet launched a Singapore cloud PoP for FortiNDR, aiming to bring network detection and response closer to customers across the region as cloud and hybrid adoption expands. Brunei Tech & Entrepreneurship: Universiti Brunei Darussalam relaunched its Start-Up Center and Entrepreneurship Village to help students, alumni, researchers and young entrepreneurs test and scale new ventures. Education for the Future: Brunei’s Education Minister said education systems must evolve to be resilient and inclusive, with stronger stakeholder cooperation to tackle issues like the digital divide and curriculum change. Regional Tech/Science Monitoring: A conservation project is building acoustic “soundscape baselines” (including Brunei sites) to track forest health using bioacoustics when satellites and canopy views miss what’s happening below. South China Sea Tensions: The Philippines protested China’s deployment of a floating “structure” at Scarborough Shoal, saying it could be part of efforts to expand an island base.

Retail Banking Shift: Standard Chartered Vietnam and Brunei says Vietnam’s retail banking is moving from “product-led” sales to long-term customer value, with cross-border support and personalised advisory as digitalisation reshapes client needs. Cybersecurity in ASEAN: Fortinet launched a Singapore cloud PoP for FortiNDR, aiming to improve threat detection and faster response across hybrid and cloud environments in the region. Wildlife & Climate Impact: A study on Indonesia’s Sumatra floods says at least 7% of the critically endangered Tapanuli orangutan population was wiped out, with satellite-based damage analysis linking habitat risk to extreme rainfall intensified by climate change. Healthcare Research: A multi-centre study examines gender differences in satisfaction with nursing home services among disabled elderly inpatients across different disease categories. Education & Innovation: Universiti Brunei Darussalam relaunched its Start-Up Center and Entrepreneurship Village to help students and young entrepreneurs test and scale ideas. Conservation Tech: A Soundscape Baselines Project is building acoustic reference points for intact forests, including pilot sites in Brunei, to detect biodiversity change beyond what satellites can show. Regional Tech & Policy: Brunei’s education minister urged education systems to become more resilient and future-ready, stressing collaboration on curriculum transformation and teacher education.

Conservation & Climate: A new study on Indonesia’s Sumatra floods says at least 58 critically endangered Tapanuli orangutans died, wiping out about 7% of the species’ population, with researchers linking the disaster’s severity to deforestation and climate-driven heavier rainfall. South China Sea Tech & Security: The Philippines released satellite-linked images of suspected Chinese structures at Scarborough Shoal, saying Manila is tracking antennas, a floating structure, buoys and a small makeshift shelter—while China rejects the claims and cites “sovereignty.” Brunei Education & Innovation: Brunei’s Education minister says the education system must evolve for a digital divide and future-ready universities, stressing cross-stakeholder cooperation. Brunei Startup Ecosystem: Universiti Brunei Darussalam relaunches its Start-Up Center and Entrepreneurship Village to help students and researchers turn ideas into scalable businesses. Brunei Ocean Agenda: Ocean Week Brunei 2026 kicks off with a blue-economy focus, aiming to connect marine conservation, sustainable livelihoods and ocean opportunities. Regional Connectivity: Sarawak highlights demand for direct Guangzhou–Kuching flights as a driver for tourism, trade and investment. Space Energy R&D (Sarawak): Sarawak explores space-based solar power research as it looks beyond terrestrial infrastructure. Telco & Digital Services (Brunei): Progresif’s shared-network model shifts competition toward customer experience, digital services and ecosystem partnerships.

Brunei Tech & Innovation: Universiti Brunei Darussalam (UBD) relaunched its Start-Up Center and Entrepreneurship Village, aiming to give students, alumni, researchers and young entrepreneurs a more accessible, affordable space to develop, test and scale ideas into businesses. Digital Nation Building: The Digital Brunei Council released Digital Brunei 2030, a five-year masterplan to guide the country’s digital push to 2030, bringing together digital government, society, business and a cross-cutting Data & AI strategy. Telco & Ecosystems: At ATxEnterprise 2026, Progresif’s Johan Johar discussed how Brunei’s shared-network model shifts competition toward customer experience, digital services and partnerships—plus the need for commercially viable 5G use cases. Ocean & Conservation Tech: Ocean Week Brunei 2026 kicked off with a blue economy focus, while a separate conservation story highlights how bioacoustics can track forest health using soundscape baselines. Regional Connectivity: Sarawak’s Guangzhou–Kuching direct flight service is reported to be drawing strong demand for China links, with ministers pointing to tourism, trade and investment benefits.

Brunei Tech & Innovation: Universiti Brunei Darussalam (UBD) relaunched its Start-Up Center and Entrepreneurship Village, offering students, alumni, researchers and young entrepreneurs resources and programmes to turn ideas into scalable businesses. Conservation Tech: A new bioacoustics approach is building “soundscape baselines” to spot forest biodiversity changes that satellites and simple carbon checks can miss, using continuous recordings and tools like BirdNET. Digital Transformation (Brunei): Digital Brunei 2030 was released as the nation’s five-year digital masterplan, aligning digital government, society, business and a cross-cutting data/AI strategy to drive measurable outcomes. Ocean Economy (Brunei): Ocean Week Brunei 2026 kicked off at UBD under a blue-economy theme, aiming to link marine conservation with sustainable livelihoods and marine tech opportunities. Telco & 5G Use Cases (Brunei): At ATxEnterprise 2026, Progresif’s Johan Johar discussed Brunei’s shared-network model and why 5G success depends on viable enterprise use cases, not just faster speeds. Space Power Tech: Sarawak says it’s exploring space-based electricity generation, including solar power via satellites, as part of its next phase beyond infrastructure. Electric Mobility: China’s electric three-wheelers are expanding overseas, with Brunei among markets reached this year.

ASEAN–China vs US: A new ISEAS survey says ASEAN stakeholders again prefer China over the United States as a strategic partner, citing China’s economic weight, infrastructure investment, and steadier trust while US influence is seen as more unpredictable. Space & energy tech: Sarawak plans for next-gen electricity generation in space, including research into space-based solar and satellite power concepts, as it moves beyond its infrastructure phase. Brunei digital roadmap: Brunei launched “Digital Brunei 2030,” a five-year masterplan covering digital government, society, business, plus a cross-cutting Data & AI strategy. Ocean economy in Brunei: Ocean Week Brunei 2026 kicked off with a blue-economy theme, spotlighting marine conservation, sustainable fisheries, aquaculture, and marine biotech opportunities. Telco innovation locally: Progresif’s COO discussed Brunei’s shared-network model at ATxEnterprise 2026, stressing that differentiation is shifting toward customer experience, digital services, and partnerships. Space power storage: Solidion Technology announced a patented extreme-climate battery platform aimed at satellites, LEO AI data centres, and lunar economy missions. Electric mobility exports: China’s electric three-wheelers are gaining overseas traction, with products already reaching Brunei and expected to push production higher as exports expand.

Digital Brunei 2030: Brunei’s Digital Brunei Council has released “Digital Brunei 2030: The Digital Brunei Transformation Plan,” a five-year masterplan to guide digital government, society, business, and a cross-cutting Data & AI strategy through 2030. Space & Energy Tech: Sarawak Premier Abang Johari says the state is preparing for next-generation electricity generation in space, including research into space-based solar power and satellite systems. Telco & Enterprise Innovation (Brunei): At ATxEnterprise 2026, Progresif’s Johan Johar discussed how Brunei’s shared-network model pushes competition toward customer experience, digital services, and ecosystem partnerships, with 5G focused on viable enterprise use cases. Payments Leadership (Regional): Visa announced Asia Pacific leadership appointments to expand value-added services across issuing, loyalty, acceptance, and risk/security—highlighting Singapore’s role as a regional hub. Blue Economy (Brunei): Ocean Week Brunei 2026 launched at UBD, kicking off a month-long programme on ocean sustainability, marine conservation, and blue economy opportunities. Space Battery Tech: Solidion Technology unveiled its extreme-climate graphene-based battery platform aimed at satellites, LEO AI data centres, and lunar economy infrastructure. Electric Mobility Trade: China’s electric three-wheelers are gaining overseas traction, with exports rising sharply and models entering markets including Brunei.

Space & Energy: Sarawak says it’s preparing for next-generation electricity generation in space, including research into space-based solar power and satellite systems, as the state moves beyond its infrastructure phase. Brunei Digital Strategy: Digital Brunei 2030 was released as the five-year national roadmap, bundling digital government, society, business, plus a cross-cutting Data and AI strategy. Brunei Connectivity & 5G Use Cases: Progresif’s Johan Johar discusses Brunei’s shared-network model and why 5G’s real challenge is finding commercially viable use cases that deliver measurable value. Blue Economy in Brunei: Ocean Week Brunei 2026 kicked off with a month-long programme on ocean sustainability, marine conservation, and blue economy opportunities. Regional Defence Tech: India’s BrahMos missile push is moving through ASEAN—Vietnam’s deal is said to be signed and Indonesia’s in final stages—amid South China Sea tensions. Payments Leadership: Visa announced Asia Pacific leadership appointments in Singapore, focused on scaling value-added services across issuing, loyalty, acceptance, and risk/security. Commercial Space Batteries: Solidion unveiled its extreme-climate graphene-based battery platform aimed at satellites, LEO AI data centres, and lunar economy needs. Electric Mobility Exports: China’s electric three-wheelers are gaining overseas traction, with Brunei among new destinations and exports expected to keep rising.

Digital Transformation: Brunei launched Digital Brunei 2030, a five-year masterplan to guide digital government, society, business, and a cross-cutting Data & AI strategy through 2030. Space Energy Research: Sarawak says it’s preparing for space-based electricity generation, including research into satellite power without batteries, as part of its next phase beyond infrastructure. Ocean & Blue Economy: Ocean Week Brunei 2026 kicked off with a month-long push on marine conservation, sustainable ocean livelihoods, and blue economy opportunities. Shared Telco Networks: At ATxEnterprise 2026, Progresif’s Johan Johar explained how Brunei’s shared-network model shifts competition toward customer experience, digital services, and partnerships. Payments Leadership: Visa announced Asia Pacific leadership changes focused on scaling value-added services across issuing, loyalty, acceptance, and risk solutions. Electric Mobility Exports: China’s electric three-wheelers are gaining overseas traction, with Brunei among markets seeing new arrivals. Space Tech Batteries: Solidion unveiled patented extreme-climate battery tech aimed at powering LEO AI data centres and lunar economy missions. Regional Growth Watch: AMRO kept Asean+3 growth at 4% for 2026-2027 but flagged risks from the Middle East crisis.

AI & Investment: A World Bank official says the Philippines can ride the AI infrastructure boom to attract investment and move up the AI value chain beyond semiconductors into testing, engineering and design services. Space Energy Research: Sarawak’s premier says the state is preparing for advanced electricity generation in space, including research into space-based solar and satellite power. Brunei Digital Strategy: Brunei launched Digital Brunei 2030, a five-year national masterplan that aligns digital government, society, business, and a cross-cutting data and AI strategy. Shared Telco Networks: At ATxEnterprise 2026, Progresif’s Johan Johar explains Brunei’s shared-network model is pushing competition toward customer experience, digital services and ecosystem partnerships. Ocean Economy: Ocean Week Brunei 2026 kicked off with a blue-economy focus, aiming to turn ocean sustainability into jobs, innovation and marine conservation action. Electric Mobility Exports: Electric three-wheelers from China are gaining overseas traction, with Brunei among markets seeing new arrivals. Space Batteries for LEO AI: Solidion unveiled extreme-climate battery tech aimed at satellites, LEO AI data centres and lunar economy missions. Payments Leadership: Visa named new Asia Pacific leaders to scale value-added services across issuing, loyalty, acceptance and risk/security. Defence Tech Watch: India’s defence chief says BrahMos missile deals with Vietnam are signed and Indonesia talks are in final stages, underscoring growing ASEAN defence technology ties.

Space Energy Research: Sarawak Premier Abang Johari says the state is preparing for next-gen electricity generation in space, including research into space-based solar power that converts sunlight into satellite electricity. Brunei Digital Transformation: Progresif’s Johan Johar discusses Brunei’s shared telco network model at ATxEnterprise 2026, stressing differentiation via customer experience, digital services and enterprise use cases. National Tech Roadmap: Digital Brunei 2030 is launched as the five-year masterplan for digital government, society, business and a cross-cutting data & AI strategy. Ocean Economy: Ocean Week Brunei 2026 kicks off with a month-long programme on blue economy, marine conservation and ocean-linked innovation. Payments Leadership: Visa appoints new Asia Pacific leaders to scale value-added services across issuing, loyalty, acceptance and risk/security. Electric Mobility Exports: China’s electric three-wheelers are gaining overseas traction, with Brunei among markets seeing new arrivals. Space Battery Tech: Solidion unveils extreme-climate battery tech aimed at satellites, LEO AI data centres and lunar economy needs. Defence Tech Watch: India’s Defence Secretary says BrahMos deals with Vietnam are signed and Indonesia talks are in final stages.