BRUNEI DARUSSALAM: The establishment of the Sarawak Trade and Tourism Office in Brunei Darussalam (STATOB) will continue to boost the state's economic trade with Brunei.
This comes as Sarawak recorded a 23.8 per cent increase in total trade with the country in the year 2023, amounting to RM3.76 billion.
According to Deputy Premier of Sarawak, Datuk Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hasan, Sarawak welcomed approximately 1.3 million visitors from Brunei in 2023 which is the highest number ever recorded.
"We can further enhance our tourism industry through joint promotions and by co-organising business events and sports initiatives, such as a sailing or yachting competition at the Brunei Bay or cross-border marathon running from Lawas to the Sultan Haji Omar Ali Saifuddien Bridge.
"I am confident that STATOB will play a crucial role in enhancing and deepening our strategic economic partnership," he said.
He said this in his remarks during the launch of STATOB which was graced by the Sarawak Premier, Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri (Dr) Abang Abdul Rahman Zohari Tun Datuk Abang Openg here, on Thursday.
Datuk Amar Awang Tengah said under the leadership of Datuk Patinggi Abang Zohari, the Sarawak Government is intensifying infrastructure development that integrates with Brunei’s road network, particularly the Northern Coastal Highway (NCH).
This vital route connects to the Sabah-Sarawak Link Road and ultimately leads to Nusantara in Indonesia.
"By integrating our road network, ensuring access to international airports and seaports, and enhancing power and telecommunications connections, Brunei and Sarawak can collaborate effectively, leveraging our competitive advantages to further enhance trade and investment.
"I envision our bilateral cooperation in energy, telecommunications, tourism, agriculture, trade, and investment gaining momentum,” he added.
The Sarawak Deputy Premier also said Sarawakian entrepreneurs, especially small and medium enterprises (SMEs), would greatly benefit from these initiatives to promote their products and services in broader markets, including Borneo and the BIMP-EAGA (Brunei-Indonesia-Malaysia-Philippines East ASEAN Growth Area) region.
"Our visionary leader, the Sarawak Premier will guide this bilateral cooperation, particularly in exploring initiatives in the digital economy and green technologies.
"STATOB represents a significant step toward realizing this vision, providing a platform to strengthen our economic ties, promote sustainable development, and drive collaborative growth not only to major sectors but also the SMEs,” he pointed out.
Also present were Sarawak Deputy Premier, Datuk Amar Professor Dr Sim Kui Hian, Sarawak Minister for Women, Early Childhood and Community Wellbeing Development, Dato Sri Fatimah Abdullah, Sarawak Minister for Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts, Dato Sri Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah, Sarawak Minister for Food Industry, Commodity and Regional Development, Dato Sri Dr Stephen Rundi Utom, Minister in the Sarawak Premier's Department, Dato Sri John Sikie Tayai, Sarawak Transport Minister, Dato Sri Lee Kim Shin, Sarawak State Secretary, Datuk Amar Mohamad Abu Bakar Marzuki, Sarawak Deputy State Secretary (Economic Planning and Development), Datu Dr Muhammad Abdullah Zaidel, and other distinguished guests. -UKASnews
