By DayakDaily Team
KUCHING, Dec 8: Sarawak plans to set up a rice processing mill in Cambodia to strengthen the State’s food security.
According to a news report from Sarawak Public Communication Unit (Ukas) today, Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg said the matter has been discussed with Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet during a courtesy visit to Cambodia on Dec 7.
He said that Cambodia produces eight million tonnes of rice, but since it does not have a factory to process rice, it sends them to Thailand and Vietnam instead.
“I told him why don’t we work together to build a rice mill there, while at the same time we also build one here (in Sarawak). We (Sarawak and Cambodia) cooperate in the rice farming sector,” he said when attending the 100th anniversary of the Kapit Peace-making ceremony today.
He added that weather uncertainties which affect rice-producing countries such as Vietnam and Indonesia are also one of the factors that drive Sarawak to take the initiative for the collaboration.
Meanwhile, Abang Johari said Cambodia has expressed interest in collaborating with Sarawak in the renewable energy sector.
He also said that Hun Hun Manet was surprised when he shared about Sarawak’s efforts to develop an Autonomous Rapid Transit (ART) powered by hydrogen energy. — DayakDaily
