KUCHING, Nov 2: Sarawak has managed to attract a total foreign investment of RM23.17 billion, with RM16.08 billion approved in 2020 and the remaining RM7.09 billion in 2021.
Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hasan said of the total, Samalaju Industrial Park in Bintulu landed RM21 billion of investment and generated RM4.6 billion in spin-offs to the local economy.
He also noted a total employment of 7,800 in 2021, an increase from 6,600 in 2020, as well as wages paid amounting to RM425 million, as compared to RM342 million in 2020.
“In 2021, Samalaju Industrial Park recorded total exports of RM13.9 billion, compared to RM9.4 billion in 2020,” he said.
Awang Tengah, who is also Minister for International Trade, Industry and Investment (MINTRED) and the Second Minister for Natural Resources and Urban Development, said there are several new investors who are negotiating with the Sarawak government.
He said these investors are very much attracted to the green hydropower potential of Sarawak to produce green products such as steel, hydrogen and components for electric vehicle (EV) batteries.
“In this respect, the government will continue to upgrade the infrastructure facilities in Samalaju Industrial Park to attract more quality investments,” he said when officiating at the groundbreaking ceremony of a epichlorohydrin (ECH) manufacturing plant project at Samalaju Industrial Park in Bintulu today.
The plant, a joint venture investment by OCI Group (OCI) and Korea Kumho Petrochemical Group, is estimated to cost about RM1.7 billion.
Awang Tengah attended the event on behalf of Sarawak Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg.
Among those also present were MINTRED Sarawak deputy minister Datuk Dr Malcolm Mussen Lamoh, MINTRED Sarawak advisor Datuk Mohamad Naroden Majais, MINTRED Sarawak acting permanent secretary Dzulkornain Masron, Samalaju assemblyman Dato Majang Renggi, OCI Group chairman Baik Woo Sug, and Korea Kumho Petrochemical Group chairman Park Chan Koo. — DayakDaily
