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GUANGZHOU, June 6: Sarawak’s Ministry of International Trade, Industry and Investment (Mintred) launched the “Mintred Connects” programme in Guangzhou, China yesterday (June 5) which will allow Sarawak entrepreneurs to engage with potential global partners and investors.
The inaugural programme saw the signing of a Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) and five Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) between Sarawak companies and their China partners in education, digital application, tourism, food and beverage (F&B) and trade facilities.
Deputy Premier of Sarawak and Mintred Minister Datuk Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hasan who launched the programme said trade and investment between Sarawak and China are important for Sarawak’s economic development.
He also said several investors from China have made Sarawak their operational base such as solar and steel manufacturing, and more are still in discussion.
“China is our important trading partner with total trade between Sarawak and China valued at RM36.73 billion in 2022 (RM27.045 billion in 2021).
“This includes Sarawak exports to China valued at RM24.6 billion in 2022 (RM18.6 billion in 2021) for items including liquefied natural gas, chemicals, minerals, edible oils, etc; and Sarawak imports from China valued at RM11.74 billion in 2022 (RM8.4 billion in 2021) for items including chemicals, mineral fuel, lubricants and miscellaneous manufactured articles,” he said in a statement after the programme launch.
In the first Mintred Connects programme, 10 Sarawakian companies participated in business matching meetings and promotion of their services and products.
Awang Tengah further said the ministry plans to conduct more Mintred Connects programme in other global locations soon.
Also present were Deputy Minister for International Trade, Industry and Investment Datuk Dr Malcolm Mussen Lamoh; Mintred advisor Datuk Mohd Naroden Majais; Ministry of Natural Resources and Urban Development (MUDENR) permanent secretary Datu Zaidi Mahdi; Mintred acting permanent secretary Dzulkornain Masron; Sarawak Economic Planning Unit (EPU) director Lester Matthew; Sarawak Land and Survey Department director Datu Abdullah Julaihi; Regional Corridor Development Authority (Recoda) chief executive officer Datu Ismawi Ismuni; Sarawak Energy Berhad chief operating officer James Ung; Consul General of Malaysia in Guangzhou, Suraya Ahmad Pauzi; Malaysian Investment Development Authority (Mida) Guangzhou deputy director Safwan Nizar Johari; and Malaysia External Trade Development Corporation (Matrade) Trade Commissioner in Guangzhou, Mohamad Haris Abdul Latiff. — DayakDaily
