Brunei currently ranks 84th , while the Southeast Asia and Pacific regional average is The goal is to be among the top 50 within just a couple years. Though Kuwait is the fourth richest country in the world, it has done little to diversify its economy beyond oil. Unlike Brunei, Kuwait has done little to even try and diversify its economy away from oil. And Kuwait is expected to run its first current-account deficit since this year.
On top of their oil woes, political tensions are high in the country. Government authorities have cracked down on dissent, taking action against individuals, groups and opposition media. The island city-state of Singapore is the third richest country in the world.
The tiny city-state and island of Singapore continues along our theme of very rich, but very small countries. It is a great location for offshore gold storage and offers an attractive tax system. It is largely focused on trade and government-funded companies. This tiny European country is one of the richest in the world.
With a population of just half a million people, it is impressive to note that there are over 9, holding companies set up here, as well as the European Investment Bank. For many years, businesses have flocked to Luxembourg to pay low taxes and pass the savings on to their customers. Public Comment: characters. Send comment. Bhutan Burma Myanmar.
Human Development Report ; Trends in human development and per capita income. They had a tremendous turnout of people and representatives. They had built a stadium there that was large enough to take the entire population of the country. Princess Diana and Prince Charles came…. They had a state dinner for 4, They were just finishing up construction of the royal palace.
It was supposed to be the largest personal residence in the world. And he also serves as Prime Minister and Minister of Defense. I have often said, in jest, that Brunei is the only absolute monarchy that has a semi-socialist system of government. It provides free education for all Brunei children, and free medical and subsidized housing for all citizens. To top it off, there is no personal income tax. They are therefore ineligible for the benefits accorded Brunei Malays. Nevertheless, it is the Chinese who constitute the commercial class of the country, and those few who have been granted citizenship play an influential role in the life of the country.
As for the Sultan, it took me some time to get through his rather formal and reserved personality. I think the breakthrough for me occurred when I presented him with a framed photograph of the earth, taken from one of our spacecraft and autographed by a crew member, who happened to be a close friend of my son-in-law.
The Sultan, an experienced pilot and much interested in space exploration, was clearly pleased, particularly when I pointed out that Borneo was at the center of the photograph. In time, I came to realize that beneath this reserved and diffident personality was a natural friendliness and a man who took his responsibilities as secular and religious leader seriously. Unlike other members of the Royal family, the Sultan took a second wife. Though Islamic law allows men up to four wives, this seldom happens in Brunei.
Despite widespread criticism within the Royal family, in he married a very pretty young flight attendant on Royal Brunei Airlines with whom he had fallen in love and for whom he built a second, but substantially smaller palace. Whatever initial hard feelings there may have been, they were no longer evident by the time I arrived.
On all official occasions the Sultan was accompanied by both wives — wife number one, Saleha, always seated on his right, and Princess Mariam, his second wife, on his left. As far as one could tell, the relationship was a harmonious one. The same family had ruled Brunei for years.
There had been a fair amount of inbreeding, but I found the Sultan to be certainly of adequate intelligence for his position. There were no political parties, there was no national assembly. There was a government mechanism, of course, with ministries and ministers, but they answered to the Sultan and he answered to God, I guess.
This was the way that worked. TULL: They were drowning in money…. When I was there oil prices were at a reasonable level, production was good. There was absolutely no tax of any kind in the country, no income tax, no real estate tax, no sales tax, no taxes whatsoever. Free education through the university level for those capable of benefiting from it.
Free health care. Most people who were Bruneians worked for the government in various capacities with a very relaxed type work day. The government was the largest employer. The grunt work in the country was done by imported laborers from the Philippines and Indonesia, but the Philippines were the largest single contingent.
The average Bruneian would not mow a lawn or do anything of that nature. The sultan, however, does not. When he wants a haircut he flies in his favourite stylist by private jet.
To really get a sense of how wealthy this guy is, look no further than his extravagant 50th birthday back in The sultan married his cousin, Raja Isteri Pengiran Anak Hajah Saleha, in and because polygamy is legal in Brunei, she remains his wife and Queen Consort despite him marrying and divorcing two other women. Under the Islamic criminal code enforced this week, gay sex, adultery and rape are punishable by death by stoning, and amputation is a punishment for theft.
0コメント