KUCHING: The Sarawak Corridor of Renewable Energy (Score) has secured 13 projects with a total approved investment of RM26.36 billion to date.
State Industrial Development Minister Datuk Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hasan said the approved investments were predominantly in the energy intensive industries such as aluminium smelting and polycrystalline silicon, metallic silicon and ferroalloy projects which would be located in the Samalaju Industrial Park.
Another two projects, in biotechnology and agro-based industries, have also been approved in the Tanjung Manis Halal Hub.
“Altogether, these investments are expected to generate a total of 9,700 direct job opportunities besides creating vast business opportunities through spin-off effects from these industries,” he said at the State Legislative Assembly in Petra Jaya here today.
Of the total investments approved, he said, RM11.4 billion or 43.2 percent were joint ventures between local and foreign investors while domestic investment RM5.2 billion or 20 percent and foreign direct investment RM9.7 billion or 36.7 percent.
On industrial estates, Awang Tengah said most of them were located in major urban towns including Kuching, Sibu, Bintulu and Miri.
To date, more than 4,300 ha of industrial land being developed throughout the state by his ministry and other agencies such as the Bintulu Development Authority (BDA) in Bintulu and the Sarawak Timber Industry Development (STIDC) in Tanjung Manis.
In addition, an area of 7,000 ha had been planned at the Samalaju Industrial Park by BDA to cater for the enegery intensive industries and 16,000 ha in Tanjung Manis for the halal hub by STIDC.
He said the ministry would also extend the development of industrial estates to rural towns such as Betong, Marudi, Sri Aman, Batu Niah and Serian and would equip them with proper infrastructure as well as conducive environment for the rural business communities.
An estimated RM99.3 million would be submitted under the third rolling plan of the 10th Malaysia Plan to the federal governement and the state 10MP mid-term review for that purpose, he said. – Bernama