KUCHING: It is expected more foreign leaders will be making official visits to Sarawak in the future due to its state government’s policy and focus on green energy and technology, said Deputy Premier Datuk Seri Dr Sim Kui Hian.
Citing the recent official visit by German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier to Sarawak, he said, it was symbolic recognition of the state’s policy and commitment to environmental, social and governance (ESG).
ESG is the key pillar used by companies to measure sustainability when doing business; focus on three core essentials, namely people, process, and product.
“This is part of our global efforts against climate change as Sarawak has 30 trillion cubic metres of carbon storage and green renewable energy with potentially 10,000MW of hydroelectricity and 1,500MW of solar and hydrogen,” he said on a Facebook post yesterday.
Sarawak, he said, was the only state that the Germany President and First Lady Elke Büdenbender visited during their recently concluded three-day state visit to the country which began on Feb 16.
“It is more than the first by a German President to Sarawak but it is the only state that the President and First Lady Elke Büdenbender visited, apart from Kuala Lumpur,” he said, adding that the last state visit by a German president to Malaysia was 26 years ago.
Dr Sim said Sarawak has the ability to attract interest of foreign leaders and more investors due to the government policy, political stability as well as financial independence.
“We are expecting more foreign leaders to visit Sarawak and these 𝗿𝗲𝗰𝗼𝗴𝗻𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 are only possible 𝗯𝗲𝗰𝗮𝘂𝘀𝗲 there is not much politicking and polarisation as well as the spirit of solidarity
and with view of political and financial independence (does not have to fully rely on the federal government),” he said.
“We are looking forward to the Post COVID-19 Development Strategy and most importantly the support of all Sarawkians to the Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) remains crucial,” he added.
Last month, Sarawak’s commitment to exploring renewable energy, in efforts to realise its vision of becoming a developed state by 2030, had also attracted the attention of Norway.
The matter was conveyed by Norwegian Ambassador to Malaysia Morten Paulsen during a courtesy call on Sarawak’s Deputy Minister for Energy and Environmental Sustainability Dr Hazland Abang Hipni on Jan 4, that the foreign country is interested in seeking opportunities for cooperation with Sarawak.
