By DayakDaily Team
KUCHING, Aug 14: Sarawak will send a delegation to Cambodia to study the construction of a rice processing centre as the country seeks to diversify its rice exports, which have previously gone mainly to Thailand and Vietnam.
According to a Sarawak Public Communication Unit (Ukas) news report, Cambodia’s Senior Minister in Charge of Special Mission (Islamic Affairs) Datuk Dr Othsman Hassan said the move is part of cooperation sought from Sarawak to help develop Cambodia’s agricultural sector for mutual benefit.
“Cambodia has a lot of rice which was previously exported to Thailand and Vietnam.
“If this processing centre can be realised, then we can expand our exports to other countries,” he told a press conference after paying a courtesy call on Sarawak Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg at Kompleks Satria Pertiwi here today.
He added that Cambodia produces over a million tonnes of cashew nuts annually but still faces packaging challenges, prompting an invitation for Sarawak investors to explore opportunities in the sector.
“Considering that we also have a port there (Cambodia), we would like to request Sarawak to supply oil and liquefied petroleum gas (LPG),” he said.
Othsman also noted that the Premier had agreed to send a delegation to Cambodia for this purpose.
Also present during the meeting were Deputy Minister in the Premier’s Department (Project Coordinator for Regional Development Agencies, DBKU, and Islamic Affairs), Datuk Dr Abdul Rahman Junaidi; Member of Parliament and Deputy President of the Cambodian Muslim Development Foundation, Rofy Othsman; and Advisors to the Royal Government of Cambodia, Nasiet Othsman, Aly Mosa, and Lep Emoskan. — DayakDaily
