KUCHING: Sarawak, currently in second position in terms of economic development in the country, is now focusing on harnessing the potential to double its gross domestic product (GDP) by 2030.
Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg said based on the latest statistics, Sarawak is currently behind Johor, followed by the Federal Territory of Kuala Lumpur and Selangor.
“In 2022, Sarawak’s GDP was only less than RM2 billion compared to Johor, which was RM140 billion. With hard work and added value in the economy, there is a great opportunity to achieve a GDP of RM280 billion by 2030,” he said.
Abang Johari said this when inaugurating the Sheikh Othman Sarawak Endowment Chair at the Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM) campus in Bangi, Wednesday (Oct 25).
He added that Sarawak’s income has experienced rapid growth over the past five years, surging from RM5 billion to RM12 billion in 2022, which shows significant growth potential if efforts to increase income continue.
“Although the target of reaching RM280 billion seems challenging, it is not impossible to achieve,” he added.
In this regard, Abang Johari said careful economic management and the right approach are crucial because this approach depends on an economic outlook that aligns with current challenges.
He said references and perspectives like Ibn Khaldun are relevant in this context, where an individual’s ability and productivity depend not only on the individual itself but also on interactions within the community.
“This leads to the idea that aggregating individual capacities into a strong entity has the potential to increase productivity and wisdom.
“With a wise approach and collective effort, Sarawak has the opportunity to realise significant economic potential and make a more significant contribution to the state’s GDP,” he said.
