By Ashley Sim
KUCHING, Dec 1: Investors in Sama Jaya Free Industrial Zone and Samalaju Industrial Park recorded total exports of RM22.34 billion from January to October 2022, compared to RM20.92 billion in 2021, said the Minister for International Trade, Industry, and Investment Datuk Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hasan.
Awang Tengah, who is also the Deputy Premier of Sarawak stated this in his ministerial winding-up speech at the State Legislative Assembly (DUN) sitting here today.
“The investors in Sama Jaya and Samalaju have performed well where their total exports for the first ten months of 2022 have exceeded the total exports for the year 2021.
“From January to October 2022, Sama Jaya recorded total exports of RM7.14 billion as compared to RM7.02 billion for the year 2021.
“For the same period, Samalaju recorded total exports of RM15.2 billion as compared to RM13.9 billion for the year 2021,” he clarified.
He also disclosed that the Ministry has also received applications for 46 projects with a total proposed investment of RM41.9 billion.
“These include RM35.45 billion for new investment projects in green steel, chemical products, etc, while RM6.47 billion are for re-investment projects by existing investors at Sama Jaya and Samalaju for silicon wafer chips, copper foil and solar ingots and wafers.
“The fact that these investors continue to re-invest and expand their businesses in Sarawak even during this challenging time clearly reflects their confidence in the way we manage our economy and the political stability that we have in Sarawak,” he explained.
Awang Tengah continued stating that there are also several investors who are currently conducting feasibility studies for siting their proposed investments in Sarawak.
“There are the Integrated Oil Refinery Project from China with proposed investment of RM23.4 billion (USD5.2 billion); the Green Energy Project from Australia with proposed investment of RM5.4 billion (USD1.2 billion); the Basic Metal Project from Australia with proposed investment of RM900 million (AUD300 million); and the Basic Metal Project (expansion) from Japan with proposed investment of RM2.81 billion,” he stated.
He also noted that besides the aforementioned feasibility studies, Sarawak Economic Development Corporation (SEDC) through its wholly owned subsidiary, is also partnering with foreign investors on the following proposed investments totalling RM24.13 billion.
“There are the hydrogen project with a consortium of companies from South Korea with proposed investment of RM16 billion (USD3.6 billion); the hydrogen project with Japanese investors with proposed investment of RM8 billion (USD1.8 billion); and the surgical glove manufacturing plant with American investor with proposed investment of RM130 million,” he mentioned.
Furthermore, Awang Tengah highlighted that the Sarawak Shell Bhd and the PTTEP HK Ltd of Thailand (PPTEP) will invest approximately USD10 billion to commercialise sour gas from Sarawak’s offshore reserves and will construct Onshore Gas Plants (OGP) within the Petchem Industrial Park in Tanjung Kidurong, Bintulu.
“OGP 1 Project by Sarawak Shell Bhd is currently under site preparation and targeted to proceed with construction in 2023. OGP 2 Project by PTTEP is expected to start site preparation works in 2023,” he added.
Moreover, Awang Tengah, who is also the Second Minister for Natural Resources and Urban Development, revealed that Sarawak has consistently ranked among the top investment destinations for manufacturing projects in Malaysia, attracting a total of RM23.17 billion, with RM16.08 billion approved in 2020 and RM7.09 billion in 2021.
“From January to June 2022, Sarawak has approved a total investment for the manufacturing sector of RM2.26 billion for 28 projects, where RM1.02 billion was approved under Industrial Coordination Act 1975 (ICA) and RM1.24 billion was approved under State Industrial Coordination Committee (ICC).
“These investment figures do not include those investments from other sectors such as mining, agriculture, real estate, tourism, etc.
“The three projects approved investment under ICA as electrical and electronic products (substrates for hard disks) worth RM1 billion; non-metallic mineral products (glass products) worth RM10 million; and transport equipment products (tugboats) worth RM9 million,” he remarked.
He went on to say that the remaining 25 projects approved under ICC were mainly in electrical and electronic products (solar ingot and wafer) worth RM1.128 billion; beverage products (bottled drinking water) worth RM50.9 million; food products (processed food) worth RM19.3 million; and services (warehousing, logistic and engineering services) worth RM18.2 million.
“These investments are expected to create about 2,500 employment opportunities,” he added. — DayakDaily
