In a 45-minute interview with Sarawak Trade and Tourism Office Singapore (STATOS) CEO Chew Chang Guan via Zoom today, RECODA CEO Datu Ismawi Ismuni spoke on Sarawak’s strategic location within ASEAN, with Australia and China nearby as one its selling points to investors.
Ismawi said the Sarawak Corridor of Renewable Energy (SCORE) leverages on the abundance of clean renewable energy, such as Bakun and Murum dams, which are hydro-electric powered, to drive heavy industries and other investments.
He said Sarawak has abundant oil and natural gas reserves, as well other natural resources such as vast deposits of silica sand and kaolin or china clay.
He also emphasised that Sarawak has a stable government which provides a conducive environment for businesses to operate.
“A sum of RM4.5 billion has been alloted for infrastructure projects, which are undertaken by the Upper Rajang Development Agency (URDA), the Highland Development Agency (HDA) and the Northern Region Development Agency (NRDA).”
“These agencies, under RECODA, are tasked to develop basic infrastructures and amenities in the remote and rural areas (hinterland) of SCORE, building roads, bridges and utilities.”
“We are busy with our infrastructure projects. SCORE has an area of 100,000 km2 and a lot of the areas are under-developed because they don’t have basic infrastructure.”
Hence, the Sarawak government through RECODA is building infrastructure projects in the rural areas to provide better road connecitivy and good amenities to provide better logistics, which is important for any investment to come in, he said.