KUCHING: Today marks a significant milestone in the state’s strategic economic approach to introduce its products and services to the region and the rest of the world via Singapore, a centre of world trade and businesses, as part of a structured programme to strengthen the state’s economic front.
Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg is expected to deliver a keynote address at the SarawakSingapore Business Forum and Expo 2019 at Suntec in Singapore in conjunction with the establishment of the Sarawak Trade and Tourism Office Singapore (Statos).
Abang Johari performed a soft launch of Statos in June this year as a key strategy for Sarawak to explore the global market, bring in more investments, promote trade and attract more tourists. Statos serves as a one-stop centre for investment and businesses, as well as tourism players in Singapore to know more about Sarawak on a daily basis.
The Sarawak-Singapore Business Forum and Expo 2019 today will see Singapore’s Minister for Trade and Industry Chan Chung Sing and Vice President of Singapore’s Manufacturing Federation Teo Eng Cheong also addressing the event.
Today’s programme will also see the signing of MoUs and MoAs between Sarawak’s business community and their Singapore counterparts to pave the way for collaborations in various fields. Abang Johari will also hold a dialogue with participants of the forum. The expo features 86 exhibitors from Sarawak displaying various products and services. Singapore has been Sarawak’s traditional trading partner since pre-independence with pepper, rubber and sago as Sarawak’s major export items to the island republic.
In 2018, trade volume between Singapore and Sarawak stood at RM2.8 billion with machinery, transport equipment, mineral fuels, lubricant and food items as the main trading items.
