KUCHING: Sarawak has tremendous potential to leverage its biomass toward generating RM4.8 billion in additional GNI (Gross National Income), 30,000 jobs and RM18 billion in investment opportunities throughout the entire biomass value chain, Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi (Dr) Abang Haji Johari Tun Abang Haji Openg said.
Sarawak, he added, has the unique opportunity to become the leader and potentially Asia’s first integrated biomass cluster, or BioHub as it has other existing bioresources that could be integrated to compliment and exemplify the concept of a sharing economy.
He said Sarawak has the intention to diversify our economy through Bio-economy, with biomass as an integral part of that transition. As such, a detailed roadmap and an action plan will be implemented by a Federal-State Taskforce led by the State Planning Unit.
“Sarawak can host ten biofuels or biochemical plants in various stages of the development, mobilising 6 million dry tonnes out of the 19 million dry tonnes of biomass in four specific clusters of Bintulu, Miri, Tanjung Manis and Kuching in next 10 -15 years,” the Chief Minister said in his opening remark at the International Biomass Conference Malaysia 2017 (IBCM 2017) with the theme ‘Biomass Industry Revolution 4.0: Innovation- Led Bio-Based Economy’ held at Borneo Convention Centre Kuching (BCCK) here yesterday. The text of this speech was read by Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas, who is Minister of Modernisation of Agriculture, Native Land and Regional Development.
Johari said the State is in the best position to realise its’ potential and support Malaysia’s aspiration in National Biomass Strategy (NBS) 2020. The State Government in collaboration with the Federal Government , he said, must continue to improve the industrial infrastructure, transportation networks and logistics system to meet the demands of the new growing industries like biomass and all business alike.
According to him, with the introduction of the State’s Digital Economy Initiatives, SBIDP (Small Business Innovation and Diversification Programme) will be strengthened through holistic approach towards digitisation that will impact all parts of the value chain affecting key areas such as agriculture where activities like precision agriculture, use of drones and all other related enablers will help solve long standing issues in the agroindustry such as yields, shortage of labour, efficiencies and more importantly improve overall mobilisation cost of resources such as biomass, enabled through new technological breakthrough.
The Chief Minister also encouraged local Sarawak companies and stakeholders to start thinking out of the box to help move out of the paradox and move into a new era of competitiveness that is highly localised but with global standards. Also present were Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Dato’ Sri Nancy Shukri and Deputy Minister of International Trade and Industry Datuk Ahmad Maslan.
