KUCHING: The state government is exploring the possibility of exporting good quality locally made food products to other countries such as South Korea and Japan besides China.
Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas said this is one area that the government would look closely into.
“For countries like Korea, we will see how we can collaborate further because they have the technology,” he told reporters during his visit to Sunday’s Deepavali open house of New Sarawak Tribune executive editor, Rajah Murugaiah.
He pointed out that modern agriculture requires various technologies such as the Internet of Things (IoT) and drones to determine and control the quality and quantity of products as demanded by consumers.
“With the use of technologies in agriculture, we should be able to become a net exporter of food products by 2030,” he said, adding that to be a net food exporter, certain export standards must be adhered to in order to ensure sufficient and continuous supply to meet the demands of consumers.
“Other than that, the prices of the produce and products must also be competitive or reasonable,” he said.
Presently, he said, Sarawak already has a number of entrepreneurs exporting high-quality ‘empurau’ fish to China and Hong Kong.
The empurau is a member of the tor tambroides species found throughout Southeast Asia. It is also known as ‘kelah’ or ‘belian’ in Malay. It is said that the Borneo variety is ‘authentic’ because the engkabang fruits which are found only in Sarawak give it the creamy fatty texture and flavor which is unique.
Uggah continued to say that with the sort of success already achieved and with more to come, the state would be able to achieve the vision of Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg to become a nett food product exporter.
