KUCHING: Sarawak Deputy Premier, Datuk Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hasan reaffirmed Malaysia’s strong commitment to advancing regional cooperation and sustainable economic growth under the Brunei Darussalam–Indonesia–Malaysia–Philippines East ASEAN Growth Area (BIMP-EAGA) framework.

He made these remarks during the BIMP-EAGA Ministerial Retreat at Samal Island, emphasising the importance of collaboration among subnational governments in realising the region’s shared vision of an integrated, prosperous, and resilient BIMP-EAGA.

“The CMGLF is uniquely positioned to align BIMP-EAGA’s goals with both local and national agendas. Our cooperation must be focused on streamlining policies, improving connectivity, enhancing border facilitation, and harnessing our complementarities,” he said in a statement.

Highlighting Sarawak’s active contribution to regional initiatives, Datuk Amar Awang Tengah outlined Malaysia-BIMP EAGA’s progress in connectivity, energy cooperation, sustainability, and trade facilitation.

Key infrastructure projects include the Pan Borneo and Northern Coastal Highways, the Trans-Borneo Railway feasibility study, the Tanjung Embang Deep Sea Port, and new maritime routes such as Zamboanga–Sandakan and Davao–Labuan, which are expected to reduce logistics costs by up to 30 per cent.

Sarawak’s renewable energy expansion, targeting 10 GW by 2030 and 15 GW by 2035, and initiatives in Carbon Capture, Utilisation and Storage (CCUS) and the Blue and Green Economy, were highlighted as models for low-carbon development and sustainable growth in the region.

He also emphasised human capital development through Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) cooperation and the importance of private sector participation, commending the BIMP-EAGA Business Council (BEBC) for spearheading strategic projects such as the BEC Card and e-commerce consolidation hub at Sungai Tujuh.

The Minister for International Trade, Industry and Investment (MINTRED) reiterated Sarawak’s readiness to deepen partnerships through the Sarawak Trade and Tourism Office Brunei (STATOB) and the upcoming office in Kalimantan Barat, inviting all BIMP-EAGA members to collaborate in developing halal, high-tech, and low-carbon industries.

“With the full commitment of all member nations, supported by a strong Secretariat and active Cluster leadership, we can transform Vision 2030 into reality. Together, we will build a BIMP-EAGA that is genuinely integrated, prosperous, and dynamic for generations to come,” he concluded.

Among the Sarawak delegation were MINTRED Advisor, Dato Sri Mohd. Naroden Majais, Director of the Economic Planning Unit, Datu Lester Matthew, MINTRED Permanent Secretary, Dzulkornain Masron, Permanent Secretary to the Sarawak Ministry for Transport, Datu Wong Hee Sieng, Chief Executive Officer of Invest Sarawak, Timothy Ong, and Consul General of Malaysia, Consulate General of Malaysia in Davao City, Deddy Faisal Ahmad Salleh.

Also present were senior officials from the Ministry for Utility and Telecommunication, Ministry for Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts, Ministry for Natural Resources and Urban Development, Ministry for Food Industry, Commodity and Regional Development, Ministry for Education, Innovation and Talent Development, Ministry for Energy and Environmental Sustainability. -UKASnews