Adenan Invites Japanese Entreprenuers To Explore Business, Investment Opportunities In Sarawak

KUCHING (Sarawak), Oct 13 (Bernama) -- Sarawak Chief Minister Adenan Satem has invited Japanese entrepreneurs to explore various opportunities for investments in areas as agriculture, manufacturing and downstream processing, timber-based as well as downstream oil and gas value added activities in the state. He said to facilitate growth of the industrial sector, the state government through its agencies, had already developed over 7,200 hectares of reasonably priced industrial land. According to Adenan, the state government has also developed over 8,000 hectares of industrial land at the Samalaju Industrial Park in Bintulu (coastal town in the central region of Sarawak) for energy intensive industries and earmarked 77,000 hectares in Tanjung Manis (located in Mukah Division, Sarawak) for a Halal Hub. "I would like to invite you to explore these opportunities and hope you can be a part of our growth history, with Japan now Malaysia's third largest economic partner after China and Singapore. "Sarawak's trade with Japan also increased from US$10.70 billion (RM44.88 billion) in 2013 to US$11.34 billion (RM47.53 billion) in 2014. "Major traded goods, include, oil and gas and timber products," he said in his speech at the official opening of the 4th MARA-OISCA (Organisation for Industrial, Spiritual and Cultural Advancement) International Business Forum 2015, here Tuesday. The text of his speech was read by the Assistant Minister in the Sarawak Chief Minister's Office (Bumiputera Entrepreneurs Development) Naroden Majais. Also present was the Executive Vice President of OISCA International Toshihiro Nakano, and Deputy Director General Mara (Entrepreneurship) Salmah Hayati Ghazali. Adenan said over the past five years, investments from Japan in Sarawak was at RM3.76 billion. "The investments range from the agricultural sector to manufacturing industries, especially high technology, such as in the Samajaya Free Industrial Zone in Kuching and energy intensive industries at the Samalaju Industrial Park in Bintulu," he added. He hoped that in respect of future planning, the relationship or cooperation between MARA-OISCA would manifest into other entrepreneurship programmes such as business incubators, business attachment and internships, business start-up consultations, business enhancement training and consultations and business and industrial study tours. "The state government would also appreciate very much if OISCA could consider setting up an agricultural technology training centre, similar to the KPD-OISCA Youth Training Centre in Tenom, Sabah. "Such a training centre will not only offer agricultural based training programmes, but also the sort with modules designed to promote the Japanese work culture which seeks to inculcate discipline, hard work, endurance, commitment, team work and trustworthiness among the trainees," he said. (US$1 = RM4.19) --BERNAMA