KUCHING: Sumitomo Corporation has expressed interest in collaborating with the Sarawak Government on mangrove conservation, blue carbon initiatives and sustainable carbon credit development in the state.

In a statement on Tuesday it said the matter was among the key issues discussed during a courtesy call by three senior officials from the Japanese conglomerate on Sarawak Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hasan in Kuching.

The delegation, comprising senior management representatives involved in renewable energy development, business transformation and environmental sustainability initiatives, held discussions with the Sarawak Government and relevant agencies on the potential for strategic cooperation in environmental conservation and green economic development.

Datuk Amar Awang Tengah, meanwhile, stressed that the Sarawak Government welcomed quality investments that could contribute to the state’s sustainable development agenda, particularly in environmental conservation, biodiversity protection and the green economy.

He emphasised that any proposed project must comply with Sarawak Government policies and regulations, while ensuring that the interests of the people, local communities and the protection of natural resources remain a priority.

During the session, Sumitomo presented its preliminary proposals and long-term direction for projects involving mangrove ecosystems, blue carbon and voluntary carbon market initiatives in Sarawak.

The company outlined a phased approach beginning with corporate social responsibility (CSR) programmes, feasibility studies and local community capacity-building efforts before progressing towards the development of voluntary carbon projects capable of generating carbon credits in the future.

Sumitomo also highlighted its “CSR entry towards carbon credits and JCM-ready future” approach, which focuses on developing projects incrementally while aligning with international standards on carbon accounting, monitoring, reporting and verification (MRV), as well as global carbon market requirements.

The delegation also sought a deeper understanding of Sarawak’s mangrove areas, land ownership structures, legal framework, government approval mechanisms and the potential for collaboration with state agencies.

Discussions further touched on future opportunities under the Joint Crediting Mechanism (JCM) between Malaysia and Japan, particularly in relation to carbon projects that could provide mutual benefits to both countries.

According to Sumitomo, Sarawak possesses strong potential in forest conservation, biodiversity protection, policy stability and green development, making it an attractive partner for long-term sustainability initiatives.

The meeting is seen as an encouraging first step towards potential strategic collaboration in mangrove conservation, blue carbon and sustainable carbon development, while also reflecting growing international confidence in Sarawak’s commitment to sustainable development and green economic transformation.

Also present at the meeting were Deputy Minister for Urban Planning, Land Administration and Environment Datuk Len Talif Salleh, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Urban Development Datu Abdullah Julaihi and Director of the Forest Department Sarawak Datu Hamden Mohammad. -UKASnews

Prepared by: Uilson Ng