S’wak eyes Affin Bank footprint in Pontianak to drive cross-border trade; Borneo Chamber of Commerce proposed

The planned Sarawak Trade and Tourism Office in Pontianak signals a new phase of cross-border economic integration between Sarawak and West Kalimantan, strengthening regional trade connectivity. Photo credit: Ukas

By Amanda L

KUCHING, June 22: The upcoming Sarawak Trade and Tourism Office (STATO) in Pontianak is set to be backed by a dedicated banking infrastructure, with the State government looking to deploy Affin Bank to drive cross-border commerce.

Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg revealed that a building has already been identified in West Kalimantan to house the new office, which will mirror the successful models currently operating in Singapore and Brunei Darussalam.

By placing dedicated officers and staff on the ground, the facility will function as a strategic communication and trade hub linking Sarawak directly with West Kalimantan.

“We have seen an upward trend in business interactions as well as healthcare and hospital relations. With this interfacing between both sides, we can provide complementary facilities.

“If these relations continue to grow, we may look into placing a bank there. We will ask Affin Bank to consider opening a branch in Pontianak, which will provide essential facilities for our business community to interact seamlessly,” he told reporters after launching the Bidayuh Cultural Centre (BCC) Bau today.

Abang Johari emphasised that this trade expansion is firmly on the right track and will yield immediate economic benefits for border districts particularly Bau and Serian, while simultaneously supporting the growth of Indonesia’s new capital city, Nusantara.

This cross-border momentum aligns with a broader regional economic push under what the Premier described as the “Borneo Trade Institution” concept. As part of this vision, he shared that the Indonesian Chamber of Commerce has reached out to Sarawak to propose the formation of a unified Borneo Chamber of Commerce.

“This will allow us to connect the business sectors across Sarawak, Sabah, Brunei and Kalimantan. It is a very positive trend because our trade volume already has an established link,” he explained.

The proposal stems from the Premier’s recent official visit to Jakarta, where he delivered a talk hosted by the ASEAN Chamber of Commerce. Moving forward, Indonesian representatives are scheduled to visit Sarawak soon to hold detailed discussions on the framework.

Beyond traditional commerce, Abang Johari noted that the regional alliance holds massive untapped potential for future collaboration, particularly in green energy and hydrogen production. — DayakDaily