KUCHING: The Sarawak government does not rely entirely on its strategic geographical position and natural resources to attract investment but also constantly improves its policies and services to maintain a healthy business ecosystem.
Sarawak Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hasan said the state government is aware of the needs of investors of both foreign direct investment (FDI) and domestic direct investment (DDI) who want a suitable business climate to invest their capital and benefit from their efforts.
"The investors also think in terms of the state's position and we are fortunate, in terms of our position, very strategic, with China only a six-hour flight away.
"We are also upgrading our road and sea connectivity, we upgrade our airports and ports from time to time and we are constantly improving our telecommunications system," he said in an exclusive interview with Bernama here, recently.
Awang Tengah said the state's business-friendly policies were pioneered by its fifth Chief Minister Tun Abdul Taib Mahmud who is now Sarawak Yang di-Pertua Negeri.
It was continued and improved according to current needs and changing times by subsequent chief ministers, namely Allahyarham Tan Sri Adenan Satem and currently Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg, he added.
Awang Tengah, who is also Sarawak Minister of International Trade and Industry, Industrial Terminal and Entrepreneur Development, said the COVID-19 pandemic that hit the country for the past two years had affected Sarawak's trade mission planning.
"During the pandemic, everything stopped. Many were affected but we are thankful that even in this challenging situation, investors were still interested despite not being able to meet us physically as we always have meetings, virtual meetings," he said.
As a result of this online meeting method, he said Sarawak was able to receive investments worth RM15.7 billion for the next two years which further positioned the state as a major investment destination in Malaysia.
Through the meetings, he said investors received a clear explanation of Sarawak's trade-friendly policy which, among others, included competitive electricity and water tariffs and affordable land premiums.
"Even if the investors can complete the project within the stipulated time, they are entitled to a rebate. The policy of attracting investors, through the state's business-friendly approach, is one of the policies that attract investors and we provide it apart from federal government incentives," he said.
Awang Tengah said the development and investment policies were in line with the direction of the Sarawak administration led by Abang Johari who wanted to go further into the Industrial Revolution 4.0 (IR4.0) era and the digital economy.
At the same time, he said Sarawak civil servants also played an efficient role in meeting the needs of investors and were ready to provide information even though they sometimes had to meet with investors beyond office hours.
He said those interested in investing in Sarawak would arrive regardless of times to find out about the investment opportunities available in the state that require information from certain officials in his ministry.
"Even outside office hours, even on weekends, I call them (state government officials) and we met these investors. They (investors) wanted a short time for us to decide... time means money for investors.
"Some of the investors who came (to Sarawak) were willing to be quarantined. At that time, they came even though we already had virtual meetings, but they came here and were willing to be quarantined for two weeks," he said.
Awang Tengah also commended the role played by local educational institutions and technical colleges in in making Sarawak an investment attraction by working together to produce a workforce suitable for the future needs of industries in the state.
In addition, he said the Sarawak government also receives cooperation from business organisations that provide input on areas that should be prioritised through their network of business partners in other countries.
In a related development, Awang Tengah said the state government, through the post-COVID-19 development strategy, had set six economic sectors to be given emphasis, namely manufacturing, commercial agriculture, tourism, forestry, communications, and social services.
"These sectors will be strengthened with seven enablers such as digital transformation, innovation, basic infrastructure, transportation, utilities, renewable energy, as well as education and human capital development," he said.
-- BERNAMA
Bernama
Fri Oct 22 2021
Awang Tengah said the state government is aware of the needs of investors of both FDI and DDI who want a suitable business climate to invest their capital and benefit from their efforts. - AWANI
Mahkamah tolak saman pegawai khas AG terhadap Rewcastle-Brown
Mahkamah Tinggi menolak saman fitnah yang difailkan oleh iaitu Mabel Sheela Mutthiah terhadap Editor Sarawak Report Clare Rewcastle-Brown.
Suspek abai penumpang ketika kapal terbakar dihukum penjara
Penantian lima tahun buat keluarga mangsa bot penyelam Conception untuk melihat suspek yang bertanggungjawab mengabai serta menyebabkan kematian 34 penumpang berakhir dengan keadilan buat mereka.
Kapten Jerry Boylan, 70 tahun dihukum penjara 10 tahun selepas terjun ke laut bagi menyelamatkan diri sendiri bersama empat anak kapal lain dalam kejadian kebakaran ngeri yang berlaku pada jam 2 pagi di Pelabuhan Platt berhampiran Pulau Santa Cruz, Santa Barbara.
Kapten Jerry Boylan, 70 tahun dihukum penjara 10 tahun selepas terjun ke laut bagi menyelamatkan diri sendiri bersama empat anak kapal lain dalam kejadian kebakaran ngeri yang berlaku pada jam 2 pagi di Pelabuhan Platt berhampiran Pulau Santa Cruz, Santa Barbara.
Pengaruh pemberontak semakin kuat & meluas di Colombia
Seorang kanak-kanak memegang belon berwarna merah, kuning dan biru -warna bendera negara Colombia di sebuah sekolah yang dibina serta dibiayai sepenuhnya oleh Estado Mayor Central (EMC), kumpulan yang diselia oleh pemberontak yang menguasai pelbagai kawasan di negara itu.
Senario ini memberi mesej mendalam bahawa usaha damai kerajaan pusat dengan kumpulan pemberontak Angkatan Bersenjata Revolusi Colombia (FARC) yang menyelia EMC itu, dilihat sukar.
Senario ini memberi mesej mendalam bahawa usaha damai kerajaan pusat dengan kumpulan pemberontak Angkatan Bersenjata Revolusi Colombia (FARC) yang menyelia EMC itu, dilihat sukar.
Palestin mohon Mesir benarkan permit sementara buat rakyat
Kedutaan Palestin Mesir memohon agar rakyatnya diberikan permit kependudukan untuk sementara waktu.
Duta Besar Palestin di Kaherah, Diab al-Louh pada Khamis memberitahu, kebenaran itu sekurang-kurangnya dapat mengurangkan kesengsaraan berterusan yang dihadapi penduduk di Gaza sehingga perang di wilayah itu selesai.
Duta Besar Palestin di Kaherah, Diab al-Louh pada Khamis memberitahu, kebenaran itu sekurang-kurangnya dapat mengurangkan kesengsaraan berterusan yang dihadapi penduduk di Gaza sehingga perang di wilayah itu selesai.
Malaysia kecam serangan pelampau Israel ke atas konvoi bantuan kemanusiaan Jordan
Malaysia mengecam sekeras-kerasnya serangan terang-terangan tanpa belas belas kasihan pelampau Israel ke atas konvoi bantuan kemanusiaan Jordan yang sedang menuju ke Gaza pada Rabu.
Polis surai himpunan dengan bom flash bangs
Selepas gagal untuk mematuhi arahan bersurai dalam tempoh 24 jam, polis bertindak lebih ganas dengan merempuh penghadang yang menempatkan kem penyokong Palestin di Universiti California, Los Angeles (LA).
Bukan itu sahaja, bom tangan flash bangs turut dilemparkan ke kawasan yang menempatkan mahasiswa-mahasiswa serta penyokong yang berhimpun sebagai tanda solidariti kepada rakyat Palestin.
Bukan itu sahaja, bom tangan flash bangs turut dilemparkan ke kawasan yang menempatkan mahasiswa-mahasiswa serta penyokong yang berhimpun sebagai tanda solidariti kepada rakyat Palestin.
AS tak senang Malaysia pertahankan Iran
Mohamed Nazri memaklumkan, ini kali kedua beliau dipanggil oleh Jabatan Negara Amerika Syarikat sejak mula bertugas lebih setahun yang lalu.
Bantuan untuk selesaikan isu bekalan air, miskin tegar - PM
Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim mengumumkan peruntukan 20 juta ringgit bagi menyelesaikan isu bekalan air berikutan cuaca panas yang melanda Kelantan sehingga menyaksikan penyurutan air sungai dan menjejaskan tanaman padi.
Cadangan wujud unit integriti dalam Pejabat Menteri Besar
Menteri Besar Perlis, Mohd Shukri Ramli bercadang untuk mewujudkan unit integriti di dalam Pejabat Menteri Besar bagi mengurus tadbir kerajaan dengan lebih telus dan berwibawa.
Permohonan tajaan MARA dibuka 7 Mei
Majlis Amanah Rakyat (MARA) akan membuka permohonan bagi penajaan pengajian peringkat Ijazah Sarjana dan Ijazah Kedoktoran (PhD) di dalam dan di luar negara pada Selasa depan.
Lima lagi daratan di Sarawak diwartakan sebagai Kawasan Perlindungan Sepenuhnya
Sarawak telah menetapkan lima lagi kawasan daratan untuk diwartakan sebagai Kawasan Perlindungan Sepenuhnya (TPA) bagi mencapai sasaran satu juta hektar kawasan berkenaan menjelang 2025.
PRK Jepak: Jangan hiraukan pujukan untuk tidak keluar mengundi - Awang Tengah
Cubaan untuk mengelirukan pengundi itu boleh menjejaskan peratusan turun mengundi dalam PRK itu.
PRK Jepak: GPS akan umum manifesto - Awang Tengah
Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) akan memperkenalkan manifesto untuk Pilihan Raya Kecil (PRK) Dewan Undangan Negeri (DUN) Jepak dalam masa terdekat.
Kenal pasti rasuah bukan hanya tanggungjawab SPRM, juruaudit
Sebaliknya, Awang Tengah berkata, tugas itu merupakan tanggungjawab semua, terutamanya mereka yang berada dalam perkhidmatan awam.
Kemerdekaan ialah bebas corak negara ikut acuan sendiri - Awang Tengah
Kebebasan penting bagi memastikan Malaysia dibentuk tanpa pengaruh luar, sekali gus memastikan negara berada di landasan yang betul.
Pan Borneo: Sarawak dapatkan kelulusan lalui sebahagian kawasan wilayah Brunei
Kerajaan Sarawak sedang melihat persepakatan dari Brunei berhubung cadangan semula pembinaan Lebuhraya Pan Borneo (LPB) menghubungkan Sarawak dan Sabah yang akan melalui sebahagian kawasan negara itu.
Sarawak hanya terima lima peratus Bajet Pembangunan Negara - Awang Tengah
Awang Tengah menegaskan kerajaan baharu ini juga perlu menyediakan Sarawak dengan peruntukan yang lebih banyak bagi merapatkan jurang pembangunan antara Semenanjung Malaysia dan Sarawak.
Bintulu terima pelaburan lebih RM44 bilion menjelang 2023 - Awang Tengah
Sarawak Shell Bhd dan PTTEP HK Ltd Thailand dijangka menyuntik pelaburan berjumlah AS$10.0 bilion (RM44.1 bilion) untuk mengkomersialkan gas masam di kawasan luar pesisir Sarawak.
DUN Sarawak: Sarawak kenal pasti 11 cadangan tindakan atasi banjir puing di Baleh
Sebanyak 11 cadangan tindakan dikenal pasti bagi menangani isu banjir puing di kawasan Empangan Baleh.
Fasa kedua projek tukun tiruan bernilai RM30 juta bermula tahun depan - Awang Tengah
Awang Tengah berkata ia susulan kejayaan fasa pertama program tersebut yang siap dilaksanakan September tahun ini.