LET THE PROGRAMME BEGIN: Awang tengah (third left) hits the gong to launch the seminar.
KAPIT: Kapit plays an important role in powering the state through hydro dam projects that will also produce electricity at competitive prices for industries in Sarawak Corridor of Renewable Energy (SCORE).
Second Minister of Resource Planning and Environment Datuk Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hassan highlighted this at the launching of the ‘Seminar on
Investment and Industries in Sarawak’ at the civic centre here yesterday.
“We need cheap energy, Bakun Dam, Murum Dam are almost completed and there’s another potential – the Baleh Dam. The economic spin-off offers huge opportunities to the business community,” he added.
He also said the industries in Samalaju Industrial Park, within SCORE area, were not just mega projects but would be catalysts for small and medium industries (SMIs).
Acknowledging that SMIs form the backbone of the country’s industries and play a significant role in the country’s economy, he said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak had launched a master plan for SMIs to help entrepreneurs expand their businesses and market their products locally and abroad.
Telling local entrepreneurs to grab the opportunities, he told them that the programme was an initiative by the Ministry of Industrial Development and several other government agencies to share with the business community the facilities, amenities and financial loans made available
Sharing the local people’s happiness that Kapit was now connected to the state electricity grid and had a new water treatment plant which was just completed, he told them that the government would develop the second phase of Bletih Mini Industrial Park at a cost of RM14 million as phase one of the park had all been taken up.
He concurred with Kapit MP Datuk Alexander Nanta Linggi that there was a need to set up a skills training centre here to prepare youths for career opportunities in SCORE. He said he would discuss the suggestion with Yayasan Sarawak and instruct Land and Survey Department to identify a suitable piece of land for it.
Assistant Minister of Investment and Promotion Julaihi Narawi, Assistant Minister of Industrial Estate Development Datuk Peter Nansian, Assistant Minister of Public Utilities (Water Supply) Datuk Sylvester, Assistant Minister of Public Utilities (Electricity and Telecommunications) Datuk Dr Stephen Rundi, Assistant Minister of Culture and Heritage Liwan Lagang and Hulu Rajang MP Datuk Billy Abit Joo were among those present.