By Karen Bong
KUCHING, Oct 10: The Sarawak government aims to not only double the growth of the state’s economy by 2030 but cascade the wealth and prosperity equitably and sustainably to all the people of Sarawak.
Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg emphasised that the state’s focus will not only be growing the Gross Domestic Products (GDP) but also how the growth can be translated to every Sarawakian.
“We want to significantly increase the average household income from the current RM5,000 to RM16,000 per month by 2030, which will put Sarawak ahead of Malaysia as a whole.
“In order to achieve a high income and advanced state by 2030, we will need to achieve an economic growth rate of 8 per cent annually to double the size of our economy from RM133 billion in 2018 to RM282 billion by 2030,” he said.
This is Abang Johari’s vision for Sarawak by 2030 where Sarawak will be a developed state with a thriving economy driven by data and innovation and everyone gets to enjoy economic prosperity, social inclusivity and a sustainable environment.
He highlighted this in his opening remarks at the 4th International Digital Economy Conference Sarawak (IDECS) held at Borneo Convention Centre Kuching (BCCK) here today.
The Sarawak Economic Action Council (SEAC), he pointed out, was thus established to formulate the state government’s Post Covid-19 Exit Economy Strategy 2030 which comprised eight economic sectors and six enabler factors.
“These 14 sectors are considered from multi-faceted angles to identify catalytic initiatives that will drive the sectors to have a high economic, social and environmental impact,” he shared.
The eight economic sectors will be the primary growth engines namely commercial agriculture and commodities, manufacturing, forestry, tourism, mining and downstream exploration, renewable energy and the potentials of hydrogen, biomass and solar energy; and services on access to affordable and quality of services.
These economic sectors are driven by six enabler sectors namely digital transformation, innovation and entrepreneurship, education, infrastructure, transport and utilities.
“The focus will be on lifting existing productivity levels significantly across all sectors of the economy through the adoption of digital technology, data and innovation.
“We envisage our exports will increase about three times supported by more high-value-added products created from our manufacturing, agriculture, forestry and mining sectors,” he explained.
Giving assurance that the government will help the private sectors grow their respective industries, Abang Johari thus expects the private sector will respond by investing and doing more in the sectors which the state put focus in.
He expressed thanks to the SEAC members, ministers, the working committees comprising government officers and the private sector for their commitments and efforts in developing the strategy to accelerate Sarawak’s economic growth plan. — DayakDaily
