Junz Wong
KOTA KINABALU: Agriculture and Food Industry Minister Datuk Junz Wong has expressed his gratitude with the collaboration from the Indonesian Consul General on the curbing of trans-boundary smuggling activities between Sabah and Kalimantan.
Junz briefed the Indonesian Consul General, Krishna Djelani, during a courtesy call yesterday on the opening of trans-boundary barter trade in Tawau, which would benefit both countries in commodities trade.
Djelani who was accompanied by the Indonesian Consul, Rima Diah Pramudyawati, said that Indonesian officials would be more than happy to collaborate with the Sabah state government to facilitate the barter trade and to also curb smuggling activities, which included LPG, sundry goods from Tawau to Indonesia and cigarettes from Indonesia.
“I’m glad that the Indonesian Consul General has given his commitment to the opening of barter trade in Tawau, which should be able to reduce smuggling activities through the joint effort of both countries,” Junz said.
The minister also informed the Consul General that a Crab City would be established in Tawau as a site has been earmarked.
The collaboration between Sabah and Indonesia in the agriculture sector would be further enhanced with a visit by the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Industry (MAFI) officials led by Junz to Jakarta on October 25 this year.
During the five-day working visit, MAFI officials would be attending a site visit on bio-combustion technology in agriculture waste management, also known as Black Soldier Project; and the seaweed downstream manufacturing technology which produces wrapping materials to replace plastic wrappers and bags.
Junz added: “We will also visit the 33rd Trade Expo Indonesia 2018 that will be held in Jakarta.”
The 33rd Trade Expo Indonesia 2018 will be presenting numerous carefully-categorized products, encompassing manufacturing products, strategic industry products, creative products and services, furniture, food and beverage products, craft and lifestyle products and local champion products, which may be of interest and could be beneficial to Sabah.