By DayakDaily Team
BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN, July 31: Sarawak’s Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hasan has proposed a joint border development approach between Sarawak and Brunei, saying closer cross-border cooperation could transform northern Sarawak into a regional economic growth corridor.
Awang Tengah said the northern region comprising Miri, Limbang and Lawas, which borders Brunei Darussalam, has significant potential for joint development by leveraging the complementary strengths of both territories.
He said Sarawak’s abundant natural resources, vast land area and renewable energy capacity could be combined with Brunei’s strengths in halal certification, technology, food processing and access to international markets to build a more resilient and competitive regional economy.
“We should work together through a joint border development approach that capitalises on our respective strengths and creates complementary growth,” he was quoted by TVS as saying when officiating at the Citarasa dan Tautan Budaya Sarawak-Brunei 2026 programme in Bandar Seri Begawan today.
Awang Tengah, who is also Minister for International Trade, Industry and Investment, said small and medium enterprises (SMEs) remain the backbone of the economy and should continue to be strengthened through digitalisation, technological adoption, innovation and improvements in product quality.
He also called for closer Sarawak-Brunei cooperation in emerging economic sectors, particularly tourism.
Citing tourism as an example, he said Brunei’s established logistics infrastructure could complement Sarawak’s efforts to strengthen air connectivity through AirBorneo.
He added that a potential codeshare partnership between AirBorneo and Royal Brunei Airlines could expand destination networks and position Brunei as a gateway to the BIMP-EAGA region.
Awang Tengah said Sarawak is also focusing on developing new economic sectors, including downstream oil and gas processing such as methanol production, the digital economy, renewable energy, high-technology manufacturing, semiconductors, aerospace and modern food production.
He said collaboration in these sectors would not only boost trade and investment but also enhance food security, create quality jobs and support sustainable economic development for the mutual benefit of Sarawak and Brunei.
The remarks were made during the opening ceremony of the event organised by the Sarawak Trade and Tourism Office Brunei (STATOB) in collaboration with the Mukim Berakas ‘B’ Consultative Council.
The report was first published by TVS. — DayakDaily
