Preliminary Rundown and Agenda
2nd Borneo Economic Forum
Shaping the Future of Borneo
7 – 8 October 2026 ● Sheraton Kuching Hotel & Hilton Kuching Hotel, Sarawak, Malaysia
DAY 1 ● 7 October 2026
Open Registration
09:00 — 09:30 MYT (GMT+8)
(30 Minutes)
Opening Video
09:30 — 09:35 MYT (GMT+8)
(5 Minutes)
A video introducing the Borneo Economic Community.
Welcoming Speech
09:35 — 09:45 MYT (GMT+8)
(10 Minutes)
Co-Chair of Borneo Economic Community (BEC)
Highlights the journey of the Borneo Economic Community (BEC), showcasing its collective efforts to promote economic integration and uphold the shared spirit of Borneo.
Keynote Address
10:05 — 10:15 MYT (GMT+8)
(10 Minutes)
Representative of the Government of Indonesia*
Highlight Indonesia's vision for Borneo as a strategic and sustainable growth corridor, while demonstrating how Indonesia's leadership since its ASEAN Chairmanship has contributed to advancing regional connectivity and fostering greater collaboration across the island and the wider ASEAN region.
Keynote Remarks
10:15 — 10:30 MYT (GMT+8)
(15 Minutes)
Premier of Sarawak
Underscore Sarawak's strategic priorities and leadership vision for advancing regional connectivity, promoting energy transition, and sustainable economic development across Borneo.
Group Photo
10:30 — 10:35 MYT (GMT+8)
(5 Minutes)
Opening Panel:
Shaping the Future of Borneo
10:35 — 11:30 MYT (GMT+8)
(55 Minutes)
Dato Jonathan Chai Voon Tok*
President of Sarawak Business Federation (SBF)
Basuki Hadimuljono*
Chairman of the Nusantara Capital Authority
YB Datuk Rogen Chin*
Chairman of Invest Sabah
Daniel Leong*
Acting CEO of Brunei Economic Development Board (BEDB) and Darussalam Enterprise (DARe)
Tetsuya Watanabe*
President of Economic Research Institute for ASEAN and East Asia (ERIA)
Moderator
Allen Lai*
Managing Director, Confer Sdn Bhd
The discussion will focus on the opportunities and challenges shaping the island, including investment, connectivity and infrastructure, energy security, digitalization, and human capital, while examining how greater cross-border cooperation can translate Borneo’s shared potential into concrete growth and shared prosperity.
Lunch Break
11:30 — 13:00 MYT (GMT+8)
(90 Minutes)
Roundtable Discussion I
Borneo Grid:
Powering ASEAN’s Growth
13:00 — 14:15 MYT (GMT+8)
(75 Minutes)
Lead Discussants
Representative from Sarawak Energy Berhad (SEB)*
Scott Roberts*
Head of ASEAN Power Grid & Special Funds Unit, Asian Development Bank (ADB)
Sigit Puji Santosa*
Chief Technology Officer, BPI Danantara; Chief Executive Officer, Danantara Management Development Fund
Nuki Agya Utama*
Director for Energy Policy and Head of Asia Zero Emission (AZE) Center, Economic Research Institute for ASEAN and East Asia (ERIA)
Musa Adnin*
Chairman of ASEAN-BAC Brunei; Managing Director of Adinin Group of Companies (AG)
Moderator
Dato’ Ir. Ts. Razib Dawood*
Executive Director, ASEAN Centre for Energy (ACE)
Given Borneo's hydrocarbon abundance and vast renewable energy potential and expanding cross-border electricity interconnections position the island as a strategic pillar of the ASEAN Power Grid and Borneo Grid.
This session will explore how Borneo's energy potential can be transformed into shared prosperity by strengthening cross-border transmission infrastructure, and aligning policy and investment frameworks across Brunei Darussalam, Indonesia, and Malaysia.
Coffee Break
14:15 — 14:30 MYT (GMT+8)
(15 Minutes)
Roundtable Discussion II
Digital Borneo:
Powering the New Economy
14:30 — 15:45 MYT (GMT+8)
(75 Minutes)
Lead Discussants
Dato' Ir. Ts. Sudarnoto bin Osman*
CEO of Sarawak Digital Economy Corporation (SDEC)
Yutaka Matsuo*
Professor at the University of Tokyo, Graduate School of Engineering, Department of Technology Management for Innovation
Yang Mulia Pengiran Noreen Afiza binti Pengiran Dato Paduka Haji Mohd Zain*
Chief Executive Officer, Dynamik Technologies
Edwin Hidayat Abdullah*
Director General for Digital Ecosystem, Minister of Communication and Digital Affairs of the Republic of Indonesia
Representative from Sabah State Government, Malaysia*
Moderator
Allen Lai*
Managing Director, Confer Sdn Bhd
Borneo's governments are increasingly positioning AI, data centres, and digital infrastructure as the island's next growth engine. Unlocking this potential will require sustained investment in digital infrastructure, talent development, and cross-border regulatory alignment, leveraging Borneo's abundant and reliable clean energy.
This session will explore how Borneo can position itself as a competitive digital and AI hub for the region, examining the frameworks, partnerships, and investments needed to translate energy abundance into digital economy leadership.
Coffee Break
15:45 — 16:00 MYT (GMT+8)
(15 Minutes)
Roundtable Discussion III
Towards A Unified Borneo Integrated Industrial Hubs
16:00 — 17:15 MYT (GMT+8)
(75 Minutes)
Lead Discussants
Leonardo Adypurnama Alias Teguh Sambodo*
Deputy for Food, Natural Resources, and Environment, Ministry of National Development Planning of Indonesia
Haji Abdul Saman Haji Ahmad*
President of National Chamber of Commerce and Industry Brunei Darussalam (NCCIBD)
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Ar. Teo Ah Khing*
Chairman of Imasa Dinasti Sdn Bhd
Nobel Pang*
Chair of BIMP-EAGA Business Council (BEBC) Malaysia
Dionisius A. Narjoko*
Senior Economist at Economic Research Institute for ASEAN and East Asia (ERIA)
Bambang Susantono*
Professor in Urban and Regional Planning Universitas Diponegoro
Moderator
Timothy Ong*
CEO of Invest Sarawak
Strategically located at the heart of Southeast Asia and a market of more than 680 million people, Borneo has the potential to become a major logistics and manufacturing hub. Connectivity is a critical enabler of Borneo's economic integration, with ports and infrastructure serving as the backbone of trade, investment, and industrial development.
This session will explore how governments and the private sector can work together to strengthen regional connectivity, improve infrastructure planning, and unlock Borneo's full economic potential.
Keynote Address
09:55 — 10:05 MYT (GMT+8)
(10 Minutes)
Representative of Sabah State Government, Malaysia*
Provide insights into Sabah’s economic priorities and leadership vision for promoting sustainable and inclusive growth, strengthening investment and trade opportunities, and advancing long-term development across Borneo.
Closing Speech
17:15 — 17:20 MYT (GMT+8)
(5 Minutes)
Co-Chair of Borneo Economic Community (BEC)
Highlights the key discussions and insights from the Borneo Economic Forum, as well as its expected deliverables to advance economic integration and uphold the shared spirit of Borneo.
Forum Break
17:20 — 19:00 MYT (GMT+8)
(100 Minutes)
Keynote Remarks
09:45 — 09:55 MYT (GMT+8)
(10 Minutes)
Representative of the Government of Brunei Darussalam*
Provide insights into Brunei’s economic priorities and leadership vision for promoting sustainable and inclusive growth, strengthening investment and trade opportunities, and advancing long-term development across Borneo.
Gala Dinner
Hosted by Premier of Sarawak
19:00 — 21:00 MYT (GMT+8)
(120 Minutes)
An exclusive Gala Dinner will be held at Hilton Hotel Kuching, bringing together business leaders, government representatives, and key stakeholders from ASEAN and Borneo to explore collaboration opportunities and strengthen business ties following the Forum. Participation will be curated to bring together a diverse and relevant community of invited guests, creating a dynamic environment for meaningful conversations and high-level relationship-building.
Selected sponsors and VIP participants will receive priority access and designated seating, providing enhanced opportunities to engage with business champions and leaders throughout the evening.
DAY 2 ● 8 October 2026
Business-to-Business
(B2B) Matching
10:00 — 15:00 MYT (GMT+8)
(300 Minutes)
Following the 2nd Borneo Economic Forum, the B2B Matching sessions at Sheraton Kuching Hotel will connect companies, investors, and key stakeholders based on shared interests and business opportunities. The sessions provide a focused platform to explore potential partnerships, facilitate meaningful connections, and turn forum discussions into concrete business opportunities.
*attendance to be confirmed
Please note the program is subject to change and will be updated on a regular basis