Sarawak On Track To Become An ASEAN Economic ‘Star’
KUCHING: Sarawak is well-positioned to realise its vision of becoming a leading "star" within the ASEAN economy, driven by the state’s inherent strengths and vast natural resources.
Sarawak Premier, Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri (Dr) Abang Abdul Rahman Zohari Tun Datuk Abang Openg, stated that while this target is a significant challenge, it is achievable given Sarawak’s robust economic foundation and immense potential in clean energy and natural resources.
He explained that Sarawak is prepared to emerge as a leader in clean energy production. This includes pioneering the production and export of green hydrogen and solar energy by leveraging the state’s extensive river systems and substantial hydroelectric capacity.
“Sarawak has also been identified as a key contributor to the proposed ASEAN Power Grid and as a primary source of renewable energy generation. This further supports the state's aspiration to serve as the region’s ‘energy battery’,” he said in a special 2025 Christmas message on Wednesday.
Regarding the natural gas sector, Datuk Patinggi Abang Zohari noted that Sarawak is blessed with vast gas reserves. These will be utilised as feedstock for the petrochemical industry, supported by the construction of critical infrastructure such as gas pipelines and terminals.
He added that this sector is expected to continue boosting the state’s economy, with the potential for investments worth billions of ringgit.
Sarawak is also uniquely positioned due to its onshore and offshore geological structures, which offer significant potential for carbon storage. This supports Carbon Capture, Utilisation, and Storage (CCUS) initiatives.
“This initiative is expected to create a new revenue stream for the Sarawak economy,” he remarked.
Furthermore, the Premier identified the semiconductor industry as another high-potential sector. Various measures have already been taken to position Sarawak as a major player in the semiconductor ecosystem, with a specific focus on compound chip design, research, and innovation. — UKASnews
