SBF eyes boost in trade between Sarawak, West Kalimantan
KUCHING: Sarawak Business Federation ( SBF) aims to help increase the trade volume between Sarawak and West Kalimantan as this will bring benefits to both regions.
For the record, Sarawak registered an increase of 87 per cent in total trade value with Indonesia, to US$ 606 million last year from US$ 323 million in 2016.
Specifically, the total trade value between Sarawak and West Kalimantan was US$ 120 million last year, with Indonesia exporting US$ 83 million and importing US$ 36 million worth of goods and services to and from Sarawak, respectively.
“By 2025, Indonesia will be the fifth biggest economy in the world,” said SBF president Datuk Abang Abdul Karim Tun Openg in commenting on the potential of both regions.
He stated this during a press conference on the Sarawak government’s business mission to Jakarta and Bandung, Indonesia at a hotel here yesterday.
In his remarks, Indonesia Consul General in Kuching Yoni Tri Prayitno expressed his hope that the trade mission would play a significant role in removing the existing trade barriers between Sarawak and Indonesia, besides promoting tourism along the borders.
On infrastructure development, Abang Abdul Karim said Sarawak government is emphasising this in the rural areas so that the benefits from Sarawak’s rich natural resources could be maximised.
On a separate note, he said the Sarawak government would also be looking at compiling and updating statistics on its economy to rectify its weaknesses.
The 60-member delegation to Indonesia, which comprises representatives from the private and public sectors, will be led by Chief Minister Datuk Patingi Abang Johari Tun Openg.
The trade mission will witness the signing of six memoranda of understanding ( MoUs) and memoranda of agreement ( MoAs) between companies from Sarawak and Indonesia.
The trade mission is organised by SBF, Sarawak Bumiputera Chamber of Entrepreneurs and the Consulate of Republic of Indonesia, in conjunction with the 33rd Trade Expo Indonesia, running from Oct 24 to 28.
By 2025, Indonesia will be the fifth biggest economy in the world. Datuk Abang Abdul Karim Tun Openg, Sarawak Business Federation president