KUCHING: The Federal government plans to make Sarawak a hub for the country's aerospace industry.

Minister of Investment, Trade and Industry, Senator Datuk Seri Utama Tengku Zafrul Tengku Abdul Aziz said, Sarawak has great potential in the industry, especially in the commitment to produce skilled workers in the field.

"Sarawak has previously made an announcement to produce talents in Sarawak universities that focus on the aerospace industry.

"So, we think that there will be talent (in the aerospace industry), and also, Sarawak geographically close to Nusantara (the capital of Indonesia), Korea, Japan and Australia,” he said.

He said this in a press conference after the Joint Committee on Industry Coordination (JBI) meeting which he co-chaired with the Sarawak Deputy Premier, Datuk Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hasan here, on Monday.

Datuk Seri Utama Tengku Zafrul added that the proposal to develop a new international airport in Kuching as well as the establishment of a Sarawak-owned airline are also seen to help the development of the aerospace industry in this Land of the Hornbills.

He said his ministry through the National Aerospace Industry Corporation (NAICO) Malaysia will also work with Sarawak in achieving the industry's development agenda.

"We also see that the aerospace industry will be able to open up opportunities in the maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) sector as well as in terms of the manufacturing sector because aerospace requires companies to be involved in the manufacturing sector," he said.

Also present were Sarawak Minister for Education, Innovation and Talent Development, Dato Sri Roland Sagah Wee Inn, Sarawak Deputy Minister for International Trade, Industry and Investment, Datuk Dr Malcolm Mussen Lamoh, Sarawak Deputy Minister for Energy and Environmental Sustainability, Datuk Dr Hazland Abang Hipni, and other distinguished guests. -UKASnews