Indian Expats In Brunei: A Thriving Community

Indians in Brunei comprise both Bruneians of Indian descent and expatriate professionals. The Indian diaspora in Brunei has a long history, with the first Indians arriving in the 1930s. Since then, successive waves of migration have contributed to a diverse and vibrant community. According to the Government of India, there are approximately 10,000 Indians living and working in Brunei, although another source puts the number at around 14,500. Indians in Brunei work in a variety of sectors, including education, medicine, engineering, construction, and retail, with more than half of Indian expatriates working in semi-skilled or unskilled roles in industries such as oil and gas.

Indians in Brunei consist of those of Indian descent and expatriate professionals

The Indian community in Brunei is diverse, with ethnic Tamils forming the majority group. The community includes Muslims, Hindus, Christians, and Sikhs, with Islam being the dominant religion. Hinduism also forms a significant portion of the belief systems among Indians in Brunei, with a 50-year-old Hindu Welfare Board functioning as a religious organisation with approximately 3,000 members and two small Hindu temples in the country. The Sikh community consists of 500 people.

Indian professionals in Brunei work in various sectors, including education, medicine, engineering, construction, trading, and retail. There are many Indian doctors and engineers, as well as professors, teachers, and research personnel in the education sector. Other areas of employment for Indians in Brunei include IT, oil and gas, and mercantile. Indian businessmen also represent a significant share of Brunei's textiles market. Overall, Indians in Brunei have a notable presence and contribute to various sectors of the country's economy.

There are several Indian Associations in Brunei, such as the Bandar Seri Begawan Indian Association (BSBIA) and the Indian Association Belait (IAB), which organise events and activities for the Indian community. These associations also celebrate Indian festivals like Diwali, Pongal, Onam, Independence Day, and Republic Day. Additionally, there are Indian expat groups, such as InterNations Brunei, that provide a platform for Indians in Brunei to connect, socialise, and exchange tips about expat life.

The Indian population in Brunei has been counted in the census since 1947

Indians in Brunei consist of Bruneians of Indian descent and expatriate professionals who have recently come to the country. According to the Government of India, there are 10,000 Indians living and working in the country. However, another source states that there are approximately 14,500 Indians living in Brunei out of a total population of about 450,500. This discrepancy could be due to the number of Indian expatriates in the country, which includes semi- and unskilled workers in industries such as oil and gas, construction, and retail.

The Indian community in Brunei is diverse, consisting of Muslims, Hindus, Christians, and Sikhs. Among them, ethnic Tamils form the majority group. Hinduism is practised by a minority of ethnic Tamils and there are approximately 3,000 Hindus in Brunei, with two Hindu temples in the country. The Sikh community, on the other hand, consists of 500 people.

Indians in Brunei are employed in various sectors, including education, medicine, engineering, IT, oil and gas, and mercantile. They hold positions as doctors, engineers, teachers, professors, researchers, and more. The presence of Indians in Brunei dates back to the colonial days, and they have had a notable presence in the country since then.

There are 10,000-11,000 Indians living and working in Brunei

Indians in Brunei consist of Bruneians of Indian descent and expatriate professionals who have recently moved to the country. According to the Government of India, there are 10,000 Indians living and working in Brunei, with one source citing a figure of 11,000. This number has been increasing since 2009. Indians have had a notable presence in Brunei since the colonial era, and there are records of people from the Indian subcontinent living there before European colonisation. According to the United Nations, Indians made up 1.6% of the population in 1971.

The Indian community in Brunei is diverse, with members hailing from various regions of India, including New Delhi, Chennai, and Mumbai. The community is also diverse in terms of religion, with Muslims, Hindus, Christians, and Sikhs all represented. However, Islam is the dominant religion among the Indian community, followed by Hinduism. There are approximately 3,000 Hindus in the country, with two small Hindu temples serving the community. The Sikh community is smaller, with around 500 members.

Indians in Brunei work in a variety of sectors, including medicine, engineering, and education, as well as IT, oil and gas, and mercantile. Notable individuals in the Indian community include Mohinder Singh Bhullar, a successful entrepreneur and leader of the Indian community, who became a citizen of Brunei in 2009 and was awarded India's highest award for a non-resident Indian, the Pravasi Bharatiya Samman, in 2010. Mr Bhullar's journey to Brunei began in 1936 when he travelled from Punjab to Malaysia. He eventually moved to Brunei in search of better job opportunities and worked as a bulldozer driver for Shell before starting his own successful sports goods and carpet businesses.

Indians in Brunei work in a variety of sectors, including IT, oil and gas, and mercantile

Indians in Brunei consist of Bruneians of Indian descent as well as expatriate professionals who have recently moved to the country. According to the Government of India, there are 10,000 Indians living and working in Brunei. This population has had a notable presence in the country since the colonial era, and there are records from European visitors to the region that people from the Indian subcontinent were already living there prior to European colonisation.

Indians in Brunei work across a variety of sectors, including IT, oil and gas, and mercantile. The number of Indian nationals working in Brunei has increased since 2009. Many Indian doctors and engineers work in the country, and others work in the education sector as professors, teachers, and research personnel.

Brunei's economy has been dominated by the oil and gas industries for the past 90 years, and the energy sector is the main contributor to the country's growth, with 64.7% of its GDP in 2022 coming from this area. The history of the oil industry in Brunei dates back to 1899 when the first exploration well was drilled near the capital, Brunei Town. Since then, the country has continued to expand its downstream industries and invest in new skills and technology to meet the growing demand. This trend is expected to continue, creating more opportunities for those working in the energy sector.

The IT sector in Brunei has also benefited from the country's focus on expanding its downstream industries and adopting new technologies. Indians working in this sector contribute to the development and implementation of innovative solutions that support Brunei's economic growth and diversification.

In addition to the IT and oil and gas sectors, Indians in Brunei are also engaged in the mercantile sector. This includes a range of business and trade activities that contribute to the country's economy and cultural diversity.

The Indian community in Brunei practices a range of religions, including Islam, Hinduism, Christianity, and Sikhism

The Indian community in Brunei is made up of people of Indian descent and expatriate professionals who have recently come to the country. There are approximately 14,500 Indians living in Brunei, with more than half of the Indian expatriates working in semi- and unskilled roles in the oil and gas industries, construction, and retail businesses.

Islam is Brunei's official religion, with 82.7% of the population practising this faith. The majority of Muslims in Brunei are Sunnis of Malay, Arab, and Indian origin, following the Shafi'i school of jurisprudence. Islam has a long history in Brunei, introduced by traders from the Indian subcontinent, among other regions. The Indian Muslims in Brunei contribute to the diverse religious landscape of the country.

Christianity is the second-largest religion in Brunei, practised by about 8.7% of the population as of 2022, although other reports suggest the number could be as high as 12%. The Christian community in Brunei faces some restrictions on their religious freedom, with bans on importing Bibles, public Christmas celebrations, and proselytising. Despite these challenges, the Christians in Brunei, including those of Indian origin, continue to practise their faith.

The Sikh community in Brunei consists of 500 people, and they have their own association, the Sikh Association, which is one of the five major Indian Associations in the country. The Sikh community in Brunei, as part of the Indian diaspora, adds to the cultural and religious diversity of the nation.

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