Brunei Darussalam - Country history and economic development

1847. Brunei signs a trade relations treaty with Britain.

1888. Brunei becomes a British-protected state.

1906. A treaty is established with Britain, introducing a representative of the British government, known as a British resident, to advise the sultan on all matters with the exception of local customs and religious matters.

1929. Oil is discovered and explored at Seria.

1941-45. Brunei is occupied by the Japanese during World War II.

1950-67. Sultan Omar Ali reigns.

1959. An agreement is signed with Britain replacing the 1906 treaty and giving Brunei self-governance under a new constitution. The British remain responsible for both internal and international security.

1962. The Brunei People's Party wins election to the recently established legislature but is denied access to office. Its ensuing armed uprising is crushed, and the sultan claims full executive authority.

1967. Brunei issues its own currency.

1967. The 28th sultan, Omar Ali, voluntarily abdicates in favor of his eldest son, Hassanal Bolkiah.

1970. The state capital, Brunei Town, is renamed Bandar Seri Begawan.

1971. The 1959 agreement with Britain is amended to give Brunei responsibility for its own internal security.

1972. A deep-water port is opened in Muara.

1973. The world's largest liquefied natural gas (LNG) plant opens.

1974. The Brunei International Airport is opened, followed a year later by the creation of the Royal Brunei Airlines.

1979. Brunei and Britain sign The Treaty of Friendship and Co-operation laying down a timetable for complete Bruneian independence some 5 years later.

1984. Brunei resumes full independent political sovereignty. Brunei joins the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC), and the United Nations.

1997. The Asian financial crisis brings a recession to Brunei and hits the construction sector especially hard.