KUCHING: The 13th World Islamic Economic Forum (WIEF), to be held in Kuching from 21 Nov till 23 this year, expects about 2000 participants and hopefully will attract investments and business to the state.
It is therefore a golden opportunity for Sarawak to promote Sarawak in relation to investments opportunities available in Sarawak, said Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hassan.
He added this is because the forum will gather not only peers among so many countries including business leaders and captains of industries.
“They all will come here, and we expect about 2000 participants to this forum as it will attract investment and for business opportunity for our people,” he said during the press conference of 13th WIEF at Pullman Hotel, yesterday.
Tengah said that Sarawak has done quiet well all this while due to its political stability.
“For the last few years, Sarawak is one of the top investment destinations in the country.
“Our Sarawak Corridor of Renewable Energy (SCORE) has attracted foreign direct investment and also Domestic Direct Investment (DDI). This is one of the corridors and up to today we have attracted about 22 projects where the investment is worth more than RM33billion,” Tengah pointed out.
He also pointed out that besides SCORE and DDI, the state has also managed to attract investment in the electronic industry.
“Meanwhile, in order to leap-frog our economy, our Chief Minister is now doing seriously into digital economy.
“And in order to have the necessary infrastructures for us to go into this digital economy, the state government is committed to give out about RM1 billion to equip ourself with those entire infrastructures,” he pointed out.
Therefore, he said that this forum is very much welcomed as the state is looking foward to it and get prepared by have meetings with the captains of industries.
“Sarawak is committed to the forum and will get whatever assistance in order to make sure this forum is held successfully and for that we have various companies to assist in order for this forum to attain such success,” he said.
He added that this forum wpuld also give the state the opportunities to have better networking with other business leaders from other countries.
“This will not only involve Muslim participants because when we look at the invited speakers there are Muslims and non Muslims,” he said.
Meanwhile Chariman of WIEF Foundation Tun Musa Hitam said that the 13th edition to held at the Borneo Convention Centre Kuching (BCCK), dives into ‘Disruptive Change: Impact and Challenges’- a timely theme against the backdrop of a global landscape impacted by everything from shifting trade policies to technological disruption.
“Based on the theme, specific focus will be given to discussions relating to Disruptive Science, Technology and Innovation, Halal Consumables and Services, Islamic Finance and Law, Arts, Culture and Design as well as Entrepreneurship and Emerging Spaces,” he said in his speech during the 13th WIEF press conference at Pullman Hotel, yesterday.
Musa said that business sector does not recognise boundaries, teritorial as well as beliefs as you will see people from Russia, China, Latin America who came to WIEF meetings that were being held throughout the world and were very well received.
“Because of that we are particulary insisting on the WIEF, the main activity is the annual forum, as well as our smaller actvities such as the roundtables held with different regions in the world; programmes for women and youth are being held all over the world as well as issues on cultures, education involving non-Muslims as well,” he added.
He said the idea for the forum is that in order for the Muslim Ummah to develop, it must be involving economic advancement.
Also present was Deputy State Secretary (Sosio Economic Transformation) Datu Ismawi Ismuni.
