By Ling Hui
KUCHING, Sept 29: China ranks second after Peninsular Malaysia as a major trading partner for Sarawak with a trade volume recorded at RM27.05 billion in 2021, says Sarawak Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg.
He said the trade volume with China represents about 17.93 per cent of Sarawak’s total trade of RM150.9 billion, while trade volume with Peninsular Malaysia was recorded at 25.3 per cent.
Compared to that in 2020, he said the trade volume between Sarawak and China had expanded.
“Sarawak’s exports to China last year was worth RM18.63 billion and import was valued at RM8.4 billion. Sarawak exported mainly LNG (liquified natural gas) and petroleum products, palm oil, timber and timber products and electrical components.
“Our trade with China is on the increase. In 2020 the value of trade between Sarawak and China was recorded at RM20.5 billion, compared to RM27.05 billion in 2021, with export then valued at RM13.8 billion and imports at RM6.7 billion,” he stated.
With a population of over 1 billion people, Abang Johari said China is an enormous market for products from Sarawak.
He thus expressed the hopes of Sarawak to take advantage of this huge market potential in China to sell its products, especially food items to realise Sarawak’s target of becoming a net food exporter by 2030.
“Sarawak will continue to look towards China as a friend and a trading partner. We sincerely hope that we will have more cultural and people-to-people exchanges with China, more food products sold to China and we welcome more people from China to come and visit us.
“We especially welcome our friends from China to appreciate our blend of culture, where the Dayaks, Malays and Chinese have learned to live alongside each other in peace and harmony,” he said during the 73rd anniversary celebration of the founding of the People’s Republic of China at a local hotel here last night (Sept 28).
Abang Johari’s speech text was read by his deputy Dato Sri Dr Sim Kui Hian. — DayakDaily
