By Amanda L
KUCHING, Aug 31: A €600,000 (about RM2.8 million) Spanish government grant will fund a rural electrification study by Konsortium Bumi Group of Companies and Barcelona-based BCN Technologies, as the Sarawak-based consultancy expands into new areas including smart agriculture.
Its managing director, Dato Ir. Janang Bungsu, said BCN Technologies founder and managing director Jordi Pol Ramon had approached the Spanish government for support for the study.
“Jordi loves Sarawak and wanted to contribute to its development. He approached the Spanish government, which then provided a €600,000 grant for the rural electrification study,” he said.
The study was among four MOUs signed during Konsortium Bumi’s 20th anniversary celebration here on Sunday (Aug 30), covering rural electrification, smart paddy cultivation, ESG consultancy and integrated engineering services.
Janang said the partnerships reflected Konsortium Bumi’s move beyond conventional architectural, engineering and quantity surveying services to expand its expertise and contribute to Sarawak’s development.
“We want to give Sarawakians more opportunities to expand their expertise. We are looking beyond conventional consultancy and want to play a bigger role in Sarawak’s development,” he said.
Another partnership will see the company venture into smart paddy cultivation, with planting at a 50-acre test plot targeted to begin by the end of September.
He said the initiative could help increase local rice production, noting that Sarawak currently imports about 80 per cent of its rice.
The company has also established Black Hornbill Perunding Bumi, which is undertaking integrated engineering technical services for PETROS, while KBE AGB ESG Consultancy Sarawak has undertaken work for Sarawak Semiconductor Berhad, including developing its ESG framework.
He said increasing competition in conventional consultancy had prompted Konsortium Bumi to diversify.
Meanwhile, Minister in the Sarawak Premier’s Department Dato Sri John Sikie Tayai said Sarawakian professional firms needed to strengthen their capabilities and take on greater roles in the State’s development.
He urged local companies to strengthen their expertise, adopt new technologies and establish strategic partnerships to progressively take leadership roles in major and technically complex projects.
“We want Sarawakian companies to move beyond supporting roles. We want them to strengthen their expertise, adopt new technologies, establish strategic partnerships and progressively take leadership roles in major and technically complex projects,” he said.
John also called on Konsortium Bumi to invest in younger professionals through mentoring, exposure and greater responsibilities, while ensuring strategic partnerships deliver knowledge transfer and stronger local technical capabilities. — DayakDaily
