KUCHING: Bintulu's recognition in the Transitioning Industrial Clusters (TIC) initiative has officially placed the state within a global industrial network valued at approximately USD808 billion under the World Economic Forum, thereby strengthening Sarawak's position in the green economy landscape and the world's industries of the future.

Sarawak Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri (Dr) Abang Abdul Rahman Zohari Tun Datuk Abang Openg said that Bintulu's participation in the network — which encompasses 39 industrial clusters across 20 countries — places Sarawak on par with the world's major industrial hubs that are leading the transformation toward low-carbon industries.

"Collectively, these clusters represent an economic output of approximately USD808 billion, providing 6.6 million job opportunities and the potential to reduce up to 870 million tonnes of carbon emissions," he said.

He made these remarks while delivering the keynote address at the Launch of TIC Bintulu: Malaysia's First Cluster under the World Economic Forum, held at the Borneo Convention Centre Kuching (BCCK) on Thursday.

Elaborating further, Datuk Patinggi Abang Zohari noted that the future of industrial competitiveness no longer depends on individual companies, but is built through ecosystems that bring together industries, governments, financial institutions, technology providers, and research institutions.

Through the TIC network, he said, Bintulu will gain access to international expertise, proven technologies, and strategic collaborations in the fields of clean energy, hydrogen, digitalisation, carbon management, circular economy, and human capital development.

"The true value of this participation lies in its ability to connect Bintulu with a global movement that is redefining how industrial regions grow, compete, and pursue decarbonisation.

"Industrial clusters are the backbone of a nation's economy, as they generate significant employment opportunities while at the same time, the sector also contributes to some of the most challenging carbon emissions to reduce," he explained.

He further added that this achievement demonstrates that industrial development and sustainability can go hand in hand in generating income and employment, while also leading efforts to reduce carbon emissions at a significant scale.

Also present were Sarawak Deputy Premiers Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas and Datuk Amar Professor Dr Sim Kui Hian, Speaker of the Sarawak Legislative Assembly Tan Sri Datuk Amar Mohamad Asfia Awang Nassar, Digital Minister Gobind Singh Deo, Sarawak Cabinet Ministers, Sarawak Secretary Datuk Amar Mohamad Abu Bakar Marzuki, Deputy Digital Minister Datuk Wilson Ugak Kumbong, Deputy Minister of Energy and Environmental Sustainability Sarawak Datuk Dr Hazland Abang Hipni, Sarawak Deputy Ministers, World Economic Forum Managing Director Neo Gim Huay, and other distinguished guests. -UKASnews

Prepared by : Jonnie Kiew
Photographer : Muhd. Zulfadli
Translator : Uilson Ng