BY JAMES WONG & JACINTHA JOLENE
KUCHING: The Sarawak Business Federation (SBF) will continue to serve as a platform for promoting investments, including both Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) and Domestic Direct Investment (DDI).
SBF President Datuk Seri Abang Abdul Karim Tun Openg stated that the federation is actively exploring opportunities with neighbouring regions and international organisations to capitalise on Sarawak’s potential as a hub for tourism and renewable energy.
One of these initiatives, he mentioned, is the Sarawak Special Taskforce to Facilitate Business (SAMUDAH) programme, which aims to empower private sector involvement and lead economic transformation.
“Alongside SAMUDAH, our current goals include reviving the Brunei Darussalam-Indonesia-Malaysia-Philippines East ASEAN Growth Area (Bimp-Eaga). We envision active participation in the Borneo Economic Business Council, particularly given the growing potential of neighbouring Indonesia and Nusantara,” he said.
Abang Abdul Karim expressed these sentiments during his speech at the Sarawak Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI) Chinese New Year Banquet Dinner and Sarawak Entrepreneur of the Year (EOYS) 2023 event, held at the Borneo Convention Centre Kuching (BCCK) on Wednesday, January 24.
Furthermore, Abang Abdul Karim, who also serves as SCCI President, took the opportunity to congratulate the EOYS awardees, recognizing their contributions to Sarawak’s economic growth.
“We acknowledge these EOYS recipients as the best in their field, the driving forces behind the state’s progress and economic development. We gather here to acknowledge and celebrate their success, ingenuity, resourcefulness, commitment, and hard work, which have not only built their businesses but have also contributed to the growth of the Sarawak economy,” he added.
The EOYS Awards for 2023 celebrated exceptional entrepreneurs in Sarawak. Lin Kok Kiat of the Dayak Chamber of Commerce and Industry received recognition in the Emerging Entrepreneur Category.
In the Master Entrepreneur Category, the winners were Datuk Lau Nai Hoh (Sarawak Chamber of Commerce and Industry), Fam Khing Foh (Kuching Chinese General Chamber of Commerce and Industry), Dayang Azizah Abang Zaidan (Sarawak Bumiputera Entrepreneurs Council), William Liang Tak Chiang, and Ching Bee Lian.
Harbour-Link Group Bhd company Chairman and Group Managing Director Datuk Yong Piaw Soon, an EOYS alumnus, received the Sarawak Outstanding Entrepreneurship Award.
The event was also attended by State Secretary Datuk Amar Abu Bakar Marzuki, Ambassador of France to Malaysia Alex Cruau, Consul General of the People’s Republic of China in Kuching Xing Wei Ping, and SCCI Chinese New Year Banquet Dinner organizing chairperson Angie Kueh.
