KUALA LUMPUR: Sarawak has been named lead convener of a landmark World Economic Forum initiative positioning the Bintulu–Samalaju industrial corridor as Malaysia's first low-carbon industrial cluster, projected to inject RM12 billion annually into the national economy and create nearly 19,000 jobs by 2040.

Sarawak Deputy Minister for Energy and Environmental Sustainability Datuk Dr Hazland Abang Hipni disclosed this while speaking as a panelist at the Unlocking Capital for Sustainability Malaysia 2026 (UCFS 2026) seminar held at the ParkRoyal Collection here on Thursday.

The one-day seminar, themed 'Financing Growth for a Resilient Economy', is a flagship regional event on sustainable finance, bringing together policymakers, financiers and industry leaders from across Asia-Pacific to explore ways to mobilise capital for sustainable, resilient growth, according to a statement.

Speaking at the seminar, Datuk Dr Hazland highlighted Sarawak's proactive stance on climate action and green growth, underscoring the state government's commitment to the WEF's Transitioning Industrial Clusters (TIC) initiative, of which Sarawak's Bintulu-Samalaju region is the first Malaysian member.

He said the Sarawak TIC was formally launched in June 2026 as a federal-state partnership led by the Sarawak Ministry for Energy and Environmental Sustainability (MEESty) as lead convener, supported by MyDIGITAL Corporation together with the World Economic Forum.

"Designed as a key platform to accelerate clean energy adoption, digital innovation and low-carbon industrial development, the TIC initiative leverages Sarawak's rich renewable resources and mature petrochemical base," he said.

The MEESty Deputy Minister said Sarawak's TIC cluster is anchored in the Bintulu-Samalaju industrial corridor, with more than 25 companies on board and four pilot projects already identified.

"The initiative will help transform Bintulu and Samalaju into a coordinated low-carbon industrial ecosystem, reinforcing Sarawak's role as a regional hub for clean energy, green petrochemicals and hydrogen-based industries.

"These efforts align with Sarawak's broader net-zero ambitions as the TIC initiative supports the state's aspiration to achieve net-zero carbon and strengthens its position as a leader in Malaysia's green economy," he said.

In his keynote, Datuk Dr Hazland urged continued collaboration between public and private stakeholders to drive sustainable investment and innovation in Sarawak's industrial development. -UKASnews