MIRI: The Miri Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MCCCI) has been urged to work closely with the local Chinese community as well as the Chinese consulate in Kuching to attract a larger volume of foreign investors to Sarawak.
Assistant Minister of Communications Datuk Lee Kim Shin said building a strong rapport with stakeholders in the industry that included small and medium enterprise (SMEs) and larger corporations would lead to unlimited business opportunities.
“With Miri recognised as a Resort City since 2005, we have seen the transformation of the city in terms of infrastructure development, resulting in its rapid economic growth in the past decade.
“However, we should not stop at upgrading the facilities but instead maximise the economy by bringing in more foreign investors, especially from China, to Miri,” he said during the launching of 13th Gong Xi Fa Cai Bazaar 2015 on Saturday.
Lee said that with more investors participating, it would directly boost the eco-tourism industry for this city as well as the state and nation.
“As a result, this will affect the supply and demand of the employment market in Miri as having more businesses means the demand for workers will increase, affecting the employment rate,” he said.
Commenting on the Gong Xi Fa Cai Bazaar, Lee said that it reflected the unity of this city’s multi-racial community, with the bazaar not only catering for the Chinese but also for other races with the allocation of 30 per cent of the 260 stalls at the bazaar for Bumiputera SMEs.
“Let us continue to strengthen the spirit of harmony and unity among us where we continue to value each other’s differences in beliefs, religion and customs through mutual respect,” Lee urged.
Miri Mayor Lawrence Lai, who is also the chairman of the bazaar, said the annual Gong Xi Fa Cai bazaar had been hosted by the Miri City Council and MCCCI for the past 13 years through a special partnership.
“The bazaar has been gazetted as part of the Miri Tourism Calendar and attracts not only locals but also Bruneians.
“This crowd pulling event is a suitable platform for local businesses to prosper,” he added.
The bazaar began on Friday and will operate daily until noon on Feb 18.
The launch was also attended by MCCCI chairman Lee Khoi Yun and SUPP Piasau chairman Datuk Sebastian Ting.
The second day of the bazaar operation attracted thousands of visitors, with plenty of entertaining performances showcased every evening.