Sarawak, Sambas eye cross-border cooperation in agriculture and development

KUCHING (Feb 11): Regent of Sambas Bupati H. Santono has invited Sarawak investors to explore opportunities in the Indonesian regency, particularly through the proposed establishment of a Special Economic Zone (SEZ) in the Paloh–Aruk border area.

Santono, who led an official delegation from Sambas to Kuching, made the call during a meeting with Sarawak Minister of Food Industry, Commodity and Regional Development Dato Sri Dr Stephen Rundi Utom on Monday. Both sides discussed strategic cooperation in agriculture and cross-border regional development.

In a statement, the Ministry of Food Industry, Commodity and Regional Development (M-FICORD) said Sambas, a major rice producer, recorded an output of 205,501 tonnes from 68,422 hectares in 2025.

The regency also produces other commodities including oil palm, dragon fruit, mandarin oranges and pepper.

“The proposed collaboration is expected to enhance the agricultural value chain through the sharing of technology and expertise from Sarawak,” M-FICORD said.

It added that the proposed SEZ aims to drive downstream industrial development through value-added commodity processing while strengthening the area’s role as an export-import gateway.

Temajuk in Sambas has been identified as a strategic location near the Straits of Malacca and the South China Sea, positioning it as an important point along global shipping routes.

Discussions also touched on the placement of Indonesian migrant workers from Sambas in Sarawak. The regency views Sarawak’s demand for labour in the plantation, construction and industrial sectors as an opportunity that could be coordinated procedurally for mutual benefit.

The visit marks a proactive step by the Sambas Regency government to transform the border region from a “peripheral area” into a “frontline”, functioning as a new economic growth centre in Borneo.

Also present at the meeting were advisor in the Sarawak Premier’s Office (Food Industries, Commodities and Regional Development) Tan Sri William Mawan, Deputy Minister of Food Industry, Commodity and Regional Development (Commodity and Regional Development) Datuk Martin Ben, Consul General of the Republic of Indonesia in Kuching Dr Abdullah Zulkifli, as well as directors and general managers of related agencies.