KUCHING, July 21: A Sarawak government delegation led by Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hasan participated in a full-day honorary visit and briefing session with the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) intergovernmental affairs director Jamil Ahmad in New York City yesterday.
In the afternoon, the delegates attended a bilateral meeting with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Regional Bureau for Asia and the Pacific director-cum-assistant secretary-general and assistant administrator Kanni Wignaraja.
In a statement, Awang Tengah said the official visit’s objectives and goals include getting understanding and knowledge for the preparation of policies, guidelines and zoning for more comprehensive land use in coastal area development planning and urban renewal.
The Sarawak team was also there to gain knowledge, experience and input about the provisions of laws, regulations or policies which are required so that development in coastal areas and urban renewal can be implemented more effectively and efficiently.
Other than that, Awang Tengah also briefed UNEP and UNDP senior officials about the Sarawak government’s initiative to make Sarawak a developed state by 2030 through Post-Covid-19 Development Strategy (PCDS) 2030.
Awang Tengah, who is also Minister for International Trade, Industrial and Investment, said his ministry is working closely with the United Nations under UNDP through the Sarawak Biodiversity Masterplan project which is currently in the implementation stage, and the State Urban Development Policy that is in the proposal paper evaluation stage.
These initiatives have received praise and appreciation from the United Nations for the Sarawak government having vision and aspiration to transform Sarawak into a developed state by 2030 with sustainable development from all aspects.
Also present were Deputy Minister of Urban Planning, Land Administration and Environment Datu Len Talif Salleh, Consulate General of Malaysia in New York Mohammed Iylia Omar, Ministry of International Trade, Industry and Investment advisor Datuk Mohd Naroden Majais, as well as senior officials from the Ministry of Natural Resources and Urban Development and Sarawak Land and Survey Department. — DayakDaily
