By Peter Sibon
SERIAN, July 25: Prime Minister’s Special Envoy to Taiwan, Japan and South Korea Datuk Seri Richard Riot Jaem said he will try to act as the bridge to bring in investors from these three countries to Malaysia and in particular, Sarawak.
As for Sarawak, Riot who is also Serian MP said, particularly, he would like to bring in investors to the Tebedu Industrial Estate (TIE).
“I will try my best to act as the bridge to bring in investors from these three countries to Serian, especially to Tebedu Industrial Estate, so that we can provide job opportunities to our children.
“In that way, they don’t have to seek employment to Kuala Lumpur and Singapore,” said Riot in his speech before giving out grants to 20 associations and suraus at his service centre at Kampung Pichin, some 12km from here today.
As such he called on the relevant authorities to provide the basic amenities such as water, electricity and telephone line to TIE.
“There is an urgent need for the Tebedu Industrial Estate to be equipped with the necessary facilities in order to attract investors there,” he said.
He pointed out that it was high time for TIE to be utilised as it lies at a strategic location between Sarawak and Kalimantan, Indonesia.
“It is high time that we utilise the Tebedu Industrial Estate. But the main thing is that there is still no basic amenities such as water, electricity and telephone line.
“These amenities must be in place before investors will consider coming in because if we don’t have these utilites we can’t expect investors to come in otherwise they will spend millions of ringgit on them,” said Riot.
Riot also highlighted that the Border Trade Agreement between Malaysia and Indonesia, which was supposed to be sealed a few years ago, should be seriously looked into by both sides as it would enhance bilateral trade between the two countries.
“I still remembered about a year before Pakatan Harapan government took over and this issue was discussed because I happened to be in the delegation consisting of five full ministers with the Prime Minister and the same with the other side; five full ministers and their president.
“As one of the issues discussed then was the need for border trade especially in Tebedu. But after Pakatan Harapan took over, there is no follow up. So now I’m trying to do that,” he emphasised.
Among the products which the local small and medium companies could focus on are halal ‘tuak’ and even whisky which could be exported to foreign market.
According Auditor-General’s Report of 2015, the cost of the setting up of the TIE project was RM65.13 million, comprising 45 industrial lots equipped with electricity and water supply facilities.
The scope and components of the project included land clearing and filling of the industrial sites as well as providing facilities such as roads, drainage, electricity, water and telecommunications.
The state government-approved TIE site, some 35 km from here and 650 metres from the Malaysian-Indonesian border, aims to promote economic cooperation between the two regions-Tebedu in Sarawak and Entikong in Kalimantan.
Such an economic cooperation is to stimulate the development of small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in the manufacturing, processing of agro based industries, creating job opportunities and strengthening the socio economic development at the border.—DayakDaily
