‘S’wak top destination for FDI in first 2 months of this year’

2

TOKEN OF APPRECIATION: Julaihi (third left) presents a memento to Awang Tengah while others look on.

MIRI: Sarawak came up tops among the states in the country in the first two months of this year when it attracted over RM3 billion in investments, ahead of Perak and Selangor.

Minister of Industrial Development Datuk Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hasan said this when launching the seminar on exploring opportunities in trade and industries at Imperial Hotel here yesterday.

“According to Malaysian Investment Development Authority (Mida), Sarawak has attracted the highest investments of over RM3 billion, which includes RM2.89 billion in FDI (foreign direct investment) and RM144.5 million in domestic investments,” he said.

He said second-placed Perak attracted RM377 million, ahead of Selangor (RM366 million) and Penang (RM351 million).

“This proves that the state government has been on the right track and this momentum must continue to achieve a developed nation status,” he said.

On another matter, Awang Tengah said the BN government has rolled out various programmes, ranging from financial assistance and loan schemes to training, to help entrepreneurs succeed in their businesses.

On Sarawak Corridor of Renewable Energy (SCORE), he said it had attracted RM24 billion in investments, which already had a positive impact on economic growth and created abundant jobs in the state.

“For just two companies which started commercial operations in this trigger industries, the construction phase itself has created thousands of jobs, and there would be much more in services and other spin-offs,” he added.

He further said that the high demand for manpower for SCORE had led to various spin-offs, including higher salaries for services such as truck drivers, upswing in property market and a myriad of business opportunities.

“A worker said he used to work for only RM15 daily and after working in Samalaju, he is now earning RM80 daily in Tokoyama, and that is only one aspect, as there is also the business aspect,” he said.

Earlier on, Assistant Minister of Industrial Development (Investment and Promotion) Julaihi Narawi said the seminar was part of a series of promotional activities by the ministry and related government agencies to provide a platform for local communities to explore business opportunities and expand their knowledge.

Among those present at the function were State Legislative Assembly speaker Datuk Amar Mohamad Awang Asfia Awang Nassar, assistant minsters Datuk Lee Kim Shin, Datuk Syvester Entri Muran, Datuk Peter Nansian Ngusie and Rosey Yunus, and senator Lihan Jok.