The Effect of Competition Law on Brunei’s Small and Medium Enterprises

Brunei must enact an effective competition policy in order to participate as a member in regional trading blocs like the APEC, ASEAN and the Trans-Pacific Partnership. What effect would Brunei’s Competition Order have on Brunei – and specifically its small and medium enterprises or SMEs (the motor of non-petrol led growth)? We develop an indication of the scope of competition policy – and use that indicator in cross-country analysis to figure out competition’s effect on Brunei’s SMEs. Using back-of-the-envelope calculation methods, increasing competition under the status quo would likely cost Brunei US$100 million. Yet, if serious innovation policy tags along with Brunei’s expanding competition policy, Brunei’s SMEs could experience a $10 billion jump in GDP. Without policies to boost the effectiveness of the US$1.5 billion in Wawasan innovation spending, increased competition could harm Brunei’s SMEs. We identify the lack of Competition Commission independence and information dissemination.