By Ling Hui
KUCHING, Nov 9: Sarawak will be shifting its economic structure to focus on greater contributions from the services and manufacturing sectors, says Sarawak Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg.
He said the Sarawak government aims to increase manufacturing sector gross domestic product (GDP) from RM31 billion in 2019 to an estimated RM82 billion in 2030.
This will make up about 29 per cent of Sarawak’s total GDP, he added.
“Sarawak’s GDP by 7.1 per cent in 2020 before rebounding to an estimated growth of 3.4 per cent in 2021.
“At the beginning of the pandemic, there was a sudden drop in manufacturing due to hastily cancelled orders and ‘just-in-time’ practices.
“However, demand for personal computers, servers, mobile phones and IT equipment rose due to the shift to remote work and the greater need for connectivity, which heavily depends on semiconductors,” he said.
Now, Abang Johari said, semiconductor industry production is above pre-pandemic levels to meet the sudden surge in chip demand.
He said therefore, Sarawak would like to seize this opportunity and emerge stronger by embarking on a full-fledged transformation to capitalise on megatrends.
“Our focus is on restructuring and diversifying our economy into a high-value industry while creating a thriving society driven by data and innovation.”
Abang Johari was launching the new SMD Semiconductor as well as witnessing the signing of the Framework Service Agreement between SMD and Melexis NV (Belgium) and the Tenancy Agreement between SMD Semiconductor and TDV.
Also present were Minister of Education, Innovation and Talent Development Datuk Roland Sagah Wee Inn, Deputy Minister of Urban Planning, Land Administration and Environemnt-cum-Tegas chairman Datu Len Talif Salleh, SMD Semiconductor chief executive officer Shariman Jalil and Melexia NV (Belgium) chief executive officer Marc Biron. — DayakDaily
