KUCHING, Aug 15: As part of a structured programme to strengthen Sarawak’s economic front, tomorrow marks a significant milestone in the state’s strategic economic approach to introduce its products and services to the region and the rest of the world via Singapore as a centre of world trade and businesses.
According to a press statement, Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg will deliver a keynote address at the Sarawak-Singapore Business Forum and Expo 2019 to be held at Suntec Singapore Convention and Exhibition Centre, Singapore tomorrow.
The expo is organised in conjunction with the establishment of the Sarawak Trade and Tourism Office Singapore (Statos).
Abang Johari had in June officiated at the soft launching of Statos.
Statos was set up as a key strategy for Sarawak to explore the global market, bring in more investments, promote trade and attract more tourists.
It serves as a one-stop centre for investment and businesses, as well as an opportunity for tourism players in Singapore to know and learn more about Sarawak by knocking on its door.
Singapore’s Minister for Trade and Industry Chan Chung Sing and Singapore Manufacturing Federation vice-president Teo Eng Cheong are expected to speak at the event.
The morning’s programme will also see the signing of Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) and Memorandums of Agreement (MoAs) between members of Sarawak’s business community and their Singapore counterparts to pave the way for collaborations in various fields.
This will be followed by two parallel seminars on trade and investment as well as tourism and business events opportunities in Sarawak.
At the end of the programme, the Chief Minister will be on hand for a dialogue with participants of the forum.
The expo features 86 exhibitors from Sarawak displaying various kinds of products and services.
Singapore has been Sarawak’s traditional trading partner since pre-independence with pepper, rubber and sago as Sarawak’s major export items to the island republic.
In 2018, the trade volume between Singapore and Sarawak stood at RM2.8 billion with machinery, transport equipment, mineral fuels, lubricant and food items as the main trading items. — DayakDaily
