PM Modi leaves for Brunei visit, will meet Sultan Hassanal Bolkiya

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is going to leave for the East Asian country Brunei today on 3 September. This is going to be the first visit of any Indian PM to Brunei. Diplomatic relations between the two countries have completed 40 years.

Brunei's Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah had invited PM Modi to visit his country. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be on a two-day visit to Brunei, the purpose of which is to enhance relations between the two countries in different fields.

India's Foreign Ministry said last Friday that Brunei is a special partner in terms of India's Act East Policy and the vision of the Indo Pacific. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is going to discuss important issues during his visit to Brunei, which also includes detailed discussions on the semiconductor sector. Along with this, India is importing hydrocarbons from here, while there will also be discussions on increasing the supply of natural gas.

Talking about bilateral trade investment, India has invested $270 million in Brunei's hydrocarbon sector. This can be considered to be expanded further to meet the natural gas requirements.

Not only semiconductors, natural gas, but there can also be talks between the two countries on space technology as well as health and the situation in Myanmar. Not only this, there will be talks on maritime security and increasing stability in the region. Let us tell you that India is engaged in further strengthening partnerships with South East Asian countries.

India wants to counter China's growing influence in the Indo Pacific by partnering with South East Asian countries and Brunei is a maritime country and its northern border touches South China.

The person whom PM Modi is going to meet in Brunei is not an ordinary person but a Sultan who lives a luxurious life. Bolkiah is the 29th Sultan of Brunei. Not only this, he has also been holding the post of Prime Minister of the country since the British left in 1984.

Bolkiah is the longest reigning monarch after Elizabeth II. In 2017, he celebrated his Golden Jubilee for ruling the country for 50 years.

Brunei is a small country, but the Sultan living in the country is counted among the richest kings along with being the most powerful person. It is said that till 1980, he was the richest person in the world. According to Forbes, Bolkiah's wealth was Rs 1.4 lakh crore in 2008. After becoming the king of the country, he built a palace worth Rs 50 billion, which was named "Istana Nurul Iman".

It is said that the King of Brunei gets as many government facilities as he has wealth, for which he does not even have to pay tax. You will be surprised to know that Brunei is a small country, with a population of only 4 lakh 82 thousand, but only a few selected people have the right to enter the King's palace.