KUCHING, Feb 28: Sarawak recorded total trade of RM3.4 billion with Australia last year, says Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hasan.
Of this, State exports to Australia was valued at RM1.5 billion, mainly comprising crude petroleum, plywood and urea.
“We also delivered several small and medium vessels to Tasmania Port Authority and the mining industry in Australia.
“While the value of our imports from Australia was RM1.8 billion, mainly for aluminum ore and concentrate,” he said when addressing participants in the ‘Business Matching Webinar 2022: Trade and Investment Opportunities in Sarawak’ in a video message today.
Awang Tengah who is also the Minister for International Trade, Industry and Investment and Minister for Urban Development and Natural Resources II further said that Sarawak continued to register positive trade balance of RM36.1 billion last year despite the Covid-19 pandemic.
The main export items from Sarawak were liquefied natural gas (LNG) at 37.5 per cent, followed by palm oil (14.3 per cent) and crude petroleum and petroleum products (9.9 per cent).
For the same year, Sarawak also registered a total of RM15.7 billion of approved investment in the manufacturing sector.
“So far, we have little investment from Australia. Therefore, we hope to attract more investment from Australia in the near future.
“In fact, we are actively negotiating with some serious investors from Western Australia to invest in Sarawak,” he added.
He also took note that Australia is very strong in the agriculture sector such as precision farming. Thus, he hoped that Sarawak can collaborate with the country to develop technology-driven commercial activities for international markets for fresh produce and processed products in the State.
Also participating was Deputy Premier of Western Australia, Roger Cook. — DayakDaily
