Sarawak trade and tourism office in Brunei mulled
MIRI: The state government is planning to pull in more investments into the state.
This includes establishing a Sarawak trade and tourism office in Brunei (Statob), similar to what was set up in Singapore to export Sarawak’s agricultural products.
Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg said this would help boost trade between the sultanate and Sarawak, and it would attract more tourists to the state.
He observed that since the establishment of Sarawak Trade and Tourism Office in Singapore (Statos), there had been positive feedback from the island nation’s ministers who visited Statos recently.
“They preferred importing Sarawak tilapia fish to those from elsewhere. They said our tilapia is tastier compared to others which have ‘muddy’ taste,” he said.
“Our tilapia taste better because we raise them in clean, clear water behind hydroelectric dams, unlike those that grow in murky ponds.”
Last year, Sarawak exported about 12 tonnes of red tilapia to Singapore.
Also, according to him, Singapore is looking into importing chicken eggs from Sarawak, saying they need about 250,000 eggs per day.
Speaking at an annual Chinese New Year gathering hosted by Federation of Miri Division Chinese Association Sarawak on Monday night at a leading hotel here, Abang Johari said Sarawak’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) this year was projected to grow by five to six percent compared to the national GDP (projected to be 4 to 5 percent).
“We will continue to develop Sarawak as long as we maintain strong socio-political unity,” he said.
Also present at the gathering were the Head of State Tun Pehin Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud, several Sarawak cabinet ministers, state opposition assemblymen, the Federation of the Chinese Association Sarawak president Datuk Richard Wee, Federation of Miri Division Chinese Association president Datuk David Goh and his vice-president Ku Chee Ming.
