KUCHING: Sarawak has marked a new milestone with the inaugural launch of Sarawak Maritime Day 2025 (SMARD 2025), highlighting the state’s commitment to positioning itself as a modern and competitive maritime power in the region.

Sarawak Transport Minister, Dato Sri Lee Kim Shin, said the event was a recognition of the maritime sector’s significant contributions to the state’s progress.

“With over 750 kilometres of coastline and an extensive river network, Sarawak is inherently a maritime state. These waterways are not only vital connectors for our people but also serve as key drivers of trade and economic growth.

“This occasion is also a tribute to seafarers, port workers, shipbuilders, fishermen, and all who continue to play a role in advancing this vital industry,” he said when officiating the SMARD 2025 launch on Thursday.

SMARD 2025 was also held in conjunction with World Maritime Day, organised by the International Maritime Organization (IMO), themed “Our Ocean, Our Obligation, Our Opportunity.”

The theme highlights the global importance of oceans in driving economic sustainability.

Dato Sri Lee stressed that Sarawak is committed to empowering its maritime industry through innovation, sustainable practices, and digital transformation. This includes upgrading infrastructure, strengthening governance, and nurturing local talent.

He noted that these efforts align with the spirit of World Aids to Navigation (WAtoN) Day, which preserves the role of traditional assets such as lighthouses, buoys, and beacons while enhancing them with modern technologies including AIS, GPS, and electronic navigation charts.

“Our vision is not to replace these traditional assets but to modernise them intelligently, ensuring resilience in the digital era,” he said.

Looking ahead, he said the state’s maritime development forms part of the broader Post COVID-19 Development Strategy 2030 (PCDS 2030) led by the Premier of Sarawak.

The strategy outlines three key pillars: the modernisation of coastal and river navigation systems, strengthening maritime governance through specialised agencies such as the Sarawak Buoys & Lights Board and the Sarawak Rivers Board, and developing the next generation of maritime professionals, especially young seafarers.

Highlighting Sarawak’s economic achievements, Dato Sri Lee noted that the state recorded a total trade value of RM198.7 billion in 2024, a 2.7 per cent increase from the previous year, with exports amounting to RM134.9 billion.

These numbers placed Sarawak as the fourth-largest contributor to Malaysia’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

In closing, he extended appreciation to the Ministry of Transport Sarawak, Sarawak Buoys and Lights Board, Marine Department Malaysia (Sarawak Region), and all agencies and stakeholders involved in the success of this prestigious event. –UKASnews