On 18th July 2023, Yang Berhormat Dato Seri Setia Dr Haji Mohd Amin Liew bin Abdullah, Minister at the Prime Minister's Office and Minister of Finance and Economy II reported the national achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) through the presentation of the Voluntary National Review 2023 (VNR 2023) Report at the High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development (HLPF) of the United Nations (UN). Brunei Darussalam’s VNR 2023 report is the second report following the first submission which was presented at the HLPF in 2020. HLPF was established in 2012 under the UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) and is the main UN platform for reporting progress on the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development by UN member countries through the presentation of VNR reports.

Brunei Darussalam’s VNR 2023 opens with a Titah from His Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu'izzaddin Waddaulah ibni Al-Marhum Sultan Haji Omar 'Ali Saifuddien Sa'adul Khairi Waddien, Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam, where His Majesty emphasised the importance of all countries including Brunei Darussalam to accelerate SDG Progress, particularly given that this is the midpoint of implementing the SDGs. His Majesty also upheld the importance of multilateralism to further strengthened the realisation of the SDGs for sustainable progress and prosperity.

Brunei Darussalam’s VNR 2023’s shares the country's efforts in strengthening the ecosystem to support the implementation of the SDGs, which include aligning the SDGs with the Brunei Vision 2035; increasing data availability for monitoring; SDGs awareness and local as well as international partnerships. VNR 2023 also provides comprehensive report on the progress and achievement of Brunei Darussalam for each of the 17 SDGs Goals, based on data evaluation of SDGs indicators through the National SDGs Tracker. On this note, the nation recorded good progress in Goal 3 (Good Health and Well-Being); Goal 4 (Quality Education); Goal 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation); Goal 7 (Affordable and Clean Energy); Goal 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth); Goal 14 (Life Under Water); and Goal 15 (Life on Land). For the remaining goals, Brunei Darussalam reported the challenges especially in terms of data availability for a full progress’s assessment and a regression was reported for Goal 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production). The participation of youth in Brunei Darussalam was also reported in the VNR, especially the SDGs Youth Statement, which outlines the perspective and integrated actions of youth in contributing to the SDGs. As a way forward, particularly post-VNR actions, VNR 2023 underlines actions such as more robust SDG data, strategic partnerships, and promoting more nationwide actions.

The presentation garnered interests from UN member states and civil societies, seeking more information on Brunei Darussalam’s efforts and actions to overcome specific SDGs gaps, and to make overall SDGs ecosystem to support the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

During the VNR 2023 report presentation, Yang Berhormat Dato expressed the country's continued commitment to realising Agenda 2030, in line with Brunei Darussalam’s National Vision, Wawasan Brunei 2035.

Voluntary National Reports for Brunei Darussalam can be downloaded at: www.sdgbrunei.gov.bn or https://hlpf.un.org/2023