Lau (fourth left) presents a token of appreciation to Wong, while Ee Sing (left), Hii (third left) and (from right) Yong, Kong and others look on after the installation ceremony.
SIBU: Sibu Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCCI) will bring about a more conducive business environment here for everybody in an effort to foster closer ties with the Bumiputera business communities.
Second Finance Minister Dato Sri Wong Soon Koh said with various ethnic groups joining hands working for the betterment of Sibu, the town would stand to prosper.
He was speaking as the guest-of-honour at SCCCI’s Installation ceremony for the term 2017-2018 here last Friday.
Wong said the new SCCCI president Dr Gregory Hii Sui Cheng had made it clear in his speech earlier that the organisation wanted to work closely with its Bumiputera counterparts.
“Hii ssaid SCCCI wanted to work closely with their Bumiputera counterparts to foster a conducive business environment in Sibu for everyone.
“On this, I want to congratulate Hii for his far-sightedness in bringing together all communities for the betterment of Sibu. I am deeply touched by his statement,” Wong, the Bawang Assan assemblyman, said.
China’s Consul-General in Kuching Fu Jijun, organising chairman Dato Lau Cheng Kiong, SCCCI permanent honorary president Tan Sri Datuk Tiong Su Kuok, vice-president Kong Hian Khim, secretary Wong Ee Sing and treasurer Yong King Sung were also present.
Addressing an audience of about 500 people, Wong said it was important to persevere and persist in these times fraught with economic uncertainties.
“I know time will come when the economic downturn will end and economic recovery may come about,” he said.
At the same function, Wong announced a grant of RM30,000 for SCCCI.
Meanwhile, Hii said they were planning to set up a team to monitor new government policies/initiatives which may have serious impact on business and find solution to deal with them in a way either to reduce their impact or turn negative impact into positive outcomes.
“Establishing a think-thank will help us to partially achieve it,” he added.
He added that SCCCI also wanted to promote the central region of Sarawak as a manufacturing and agricultural centre and to continuously encourage foreign investors to set up factories or estates preferably on a joint venture basis with local entrepreneurs.
“For these to be realised, we will work with government agencies to establish large industrial and agriculture estates to create more higher paying jobs in the manufacturing sector so that local talents may be retained in Sibu,” Hii said.
He also said they would want to develop more tourism infrastructure and improve air accessibility to international destinations for a successful tourism push.
To explore and develop new business opportunities for instance, in Kalimantan, to complement their current concentration of ties with China was also on the card.
Hii also felt there was a need to promote digital commerce and e-entrepreneur start-ups to pave the way for Sibu to regain its status as a commercial centre.
“Also, we want to set up a young entrepreneur chapter/section in SCCCI for better linkage with these enterprising youths who will be our future leaders,” he said.