KUCHING: A delegation from the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) paid a courtesy visit to Deputy Minister of Natural Resources and Urban Development Datuk Len Talif Salleh recently.
The delegation comprised UNDP assistant administrator and director of the Regional Bureau For Asia-Pacific and United Nations (UN) assistant secretary-general Kanni Wignaraja.
The courtesy call was part of the working visit to Malaysia and followed by the high-level meeting with the Sarawak government which was chaired by Len Talif.
The work visit was also an extended return visit from the bilateral meeting between the delegation of the Sarawak government and UNDP which was held in New York City, United States on July 19.
During the high-level meeting, Len Talif also shared information with UNDP regarding the state government’s initiative to make Sarawak a developed state by 2030 through the Post COVID-19 Development Strategy (PCDS) 2030 which is based on economic structure, business facilities, expenditure targets, optimising assets and human capital, digital implementation, social inclusivity and environmental sustainability.
In addition, he also stated several initiatives of the state government in an effort to ensure environmental sustainability such as education and youth awareness programmes on environmental sustainability by the Sarawak Forestry Department, Natural Resources and Environment Board, Sarawak Forestry Corporation and Sarawak Biodiversity Centre, reforestation programme, artificial reef ball project and many more which are recognised internationally.
He also informed that the Ministry also works closely with the UN under the UNDP through the Sarawak Biodiversity Masterplan project which is currently in the implementation stage and the State Urban Development Policy in the proposal paper evaluation stage.
Len Talif added these initiatives are to ensure sustainable and balanced development planning from all aspects for the state of Sarawak.
Meanwhile, also present during the high-level meeting were UNDP Resident representative for Malaysia, Singapore and Brunei Darussalam Niloy Banerjee; its Assistant Resident Representative Asfaazam Kasbani; Special Advisor of Planning and Urban Development Datuk Sajeli Kipli; Head of the Urban Development Division Forkanizam Dolhadi; and several officials senior from the Ministry of Natural Resources and Sarawak Urban Development, the Economic Planning Unit of the Sarawak Premier’s Department, the Sarawak Land and Survey Department, the Sarawak Forest Department, the Natural Resources and Environment Board, the Sarawak Forestry Corporation and the Sarawak Biodiversity Centre.
