The views of the Sarawak State Assembly building taken from the air – Bernama file photo
KUCHING: Sarawak is on the right track to become a high income economy come year 2030, said Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg.
“As I look back on the past three years, I am inspired by Sarawak’s progress and as the Chief Minister and the Minister for Finance and Economic Planning, I am more determined than ever to keep Sarawak economy moving forward,” Abang Johari said in his ministerial winding up speech during the State Legislative Assembly sitting today.
Abang Johari said when he came into office after he was appointed as a chief minister in 2017, Sarawak posted a surplus of RM110.1 million in 2018 on a budget of RM8.2 billion.
For the year 2019, Abang Johari said he had proposed a budget of RM11.9 billion, the biggest to date, with an expected surplus of RM122 million focussing on rural development as a means to bridge the development gap between the urban and rural areas, he said.
Abang Johari said in order to be a developed economy, Sarawak must have sufficient and good infrastructure and public amenities that can support and attract private investment.
Besides that, he said Sarawak must also have good communication and connectivity to be able to move forward in its development agenda.
“Together with talent development, these will lay the foundation for Sarawak to be on its way as a developed State come 2030.”
Abang Johari said the State Budget 2020 is designed to create the investment environment and eco-system for private sector to invest, and crafted to suit a new era of development in which digital economy is the state’s new focus.
“Essentially, this is the development strategy of the Sarawak Government for a better Sarawak in the future, he added.