Businesses committed to uphold Premier’s vision

KUCHING: The business community in Sarawak is committed to support the vision, initiatives, and policies of the state government.

Sarawak Business Federation (SBF) president Datuk Seri Abang Abdul Karim Tun Abang Openg said businesses are taking the cues from Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg’s leadership.

He said the private sector has a good relationship with the state government and the policies that are implemented have benefitted the business community.

This, he said, is manifested through the Sarawak Special Taskforce to Facilitate Business (SAMUDAH) programme under the Economic Planning Unit (EPU)

“The SBF comprised more than 20 business organisations and chambers of commerce. We want to be in line with what the state government wants to do. 

“Through SAMUDAH, we meet at least every quarterly to discuss how we can further collaborate and work together with the state government. 

“At the same time, the SBF has also established our own Post Covid-19 Development Strategy (PCDS) 2023 Action Committee to mirror the PCDS initiatives by the state government,” he told the New Sarawak Tribune on Wednesday (Jan 17). 

In stressing the private sector as the engine of growth for Sarawak’s economy, Abang Abdul Karim said the state government has laid out an impeccable roadmap which the business community is implementing. 

“One of SBF’s main objectives is to bring investments to Sarawak because the Premier has talked about doubling the state’s gross domestic product (GDP) by the year 2030. 

“This is a tall order, but I am very confident that we will be able to achieve this especially with Abang Johari’s visionary leadership and his administration,” he said. 

For the record, under PCDS2030, Sarawak is targeting to double its GDP from RM140 billion in 2022 to RM282 billion in 2030.

In July last year, the World Bank accorded Sarawak a high-income state status by having a gross national income (GNI) per capita of more than USD 13,205.