By DayakDaily Team
KUCHING, Aug 14: The Cambodian government has expressed its readiness to deepen cooperation with Sarawak, particularly in agriculture and bilateral trade, to ensure mutual benefits for both sides.
In a TVS news report, Cambodia’s Senior Minister for Special Mission (Islamic Affairs), Datuk Dr Othsman Hassan, said his official visit to Sarawak has opened new opportunities to explore long-term partnerships that could yield significant gains for both regions.
“In Cambodia, we possess abundant agricultural resources and other assets. Malaysia, especially Sarawak, has the expertise and capability to conduct studies and determine the best ways to implement joint initiatives.
“For instance, in rice production, the paddy fields here are insufficient to meet local demand, whereas in Cambodia, we have an advantage in this area.
“This creates room for collaboration, sharing resources and facilitating the exchange of products between Cambodia and Malaysia, ensuring both sides benefit,” he said when speaking to the media after attending a special briefing with several Sarawak government agencies at Wisma Bapa Malaysia on Wednesday (Aug 13).
Earlier, Deputy Minister in the Sarawak Premier’s Department (Project Coordinator for Regional Development Agencies, DBKU and Islamic Affairs), Datuk Dr Abdul Rahman Junaidi, said the briefing featured six presentations from Petroleum Sarawak Berhad (PETROS), Sarawak Energy Berhad, the Ministry of Food Industry, Commodities and Regional Development (M-FICORD), the Ministry of Infrastructure and Port Development (MIPD), Affin Bank, and the Halal Development Unit of the Sarawak Islamic Religious Department (JAIS).
“The aim was to provide Datuk Dr Othsman Hassan with an overview of the roles and functions of these agencies, laying the groundwork for potential future collaborations,” he said.
Othsman, who began his three-day official visit to Sarawak on Tuesday, is scheduled to pay a courtesy call on Sarawak Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg at the Satria Pertiwi Complex today, followed by a meeting with the Sarawak Governor Tun Pehin Sri Dr Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar, at the Astana Negeri Sarawak in the afternoon.
He leads a Cambodian government delegation that includes Cambodian Member of Parliament Rofy Othsman and two government advisers, Nasiet Othsman and Aly Mosa. The delegation is scheduled to depart on Friday. — DayakDaily
