Awang Tengah presents a souvenir to Anil Kumar Verma, the CEO of Roseberry Group of Companies.
DUBAI: United Arab Emirates (UAE) is an important trading partner for Malaysia, with its export to UAE totalling RM12.6 billion and imports of RM9.6 billion in 2016.
“We export mainly jewellery, electrical machinery and equipment, boilers, machinery and mechanical appliances, petroleum and petroleum products, and wood–based products. Our major imports are jewellery, petroleum and petroleum products, plastics, aluminium, iron and steel,” said Minister of Industrial and Entrepreneur Development Datuk Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hasan.
Awang Tengah, who is also Deputy Chief Minister and Second Minister of Urban Development and Natural Resources, is in the UAE from May 22 to 26 together with a 27-member delegation from Sarawak Investment Promotion.
The delegation will be meeting with business community and industry players, interested purchasers of Sarawak’s shipping vessels and visiting cattle, sheep and goat farms and milk processing factory in Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Al Ain.
Awang Tengah met Afaaq Islamic Development Company and Roseberry Group on Tuesday, and explained what Sarawak had to offer to UAE.
He said while trade between UAE and Sarawak is relatively smaller, UAE is a very important market for vessels built in Sarawak.
“Sarawak exported US$29 million worth of ships, boats and floating structures in 2016 while the figure for 2015 was US$28 million.”
He also talked about the Tanjung Manis Halal Hub, saying that Malaysia has been spearheading the halal industry for the benefit of Muslims and non-Muslim around the globe.
“Being the pioneer in halal certification, Malaysia ensures the integrity of halal products and services through strict compliance with syariah requirements whilst still being business focused and this certification is recognised internationally.”
The 77,000ha-Tanjung Manis Halal Hub (TMHH) is the largest among all halal hubs or parks in the region and provides investment potential in the cultivation of food crops, aquaculture, poultry and livestock, food processing, cosmetic and health products.
“TMHH is already accredited as Halmas (Halal Malaysia) Status by Halal Development Corporation in 2010 and with this status, the operators, industry players and logistics service providers who invest in this area will be able to enjoy incentives,” he said, adding that with its strategic location, Sarawak could be used as a springboard for companies to penetrate the global halal market.
He invited representatives from Afaaq Islamic Development Company and Roseberry Group to visit Sarawak and see for themselves what business opportunities Sarawak has to offer.
Others in the delegation include Assistant Minister of Entrepreneur and Small, Medium Enterprise (SME) Development and Assistant Minister of E-Commerce Datuk Mohd Naroden Majais, Assistant Minister of Industries and Investment Malcom Mussen Lamoh, permanent secretary to the Ministry of Industrial and Entrepreneur Development Datu Liaw Soon Eng, STIDC general manager Datu Sarudu Hoklai, and SEDC general manager Soedirman Aini.
Consul General in Dubai Yubazlan Yusof, Remee Yaakub from Matrade Dubai and Sukri Abu Bakar from Mida Dubai were also present.