PUTRAJAYA: The Sarawak Government will continue to strengthen the Bumiputera development agenda through a more integrated approach, focusing on enterprise expansion, talent development, financing, market access and participation in high-impact sectors.

Sarawak Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hasan said this during the Bumiputera Economic Council Steering Committee Meeting No. 2/2026 held here on Monday.

The Ministry of International Trade, Industry and Investment Sarawak (MINTRED) said a key initiative is the 3-7-20 strategic framework which focuses on listing Bumiputera companies on Bursa Malaysia, developing Regional Business Champions and scaling up micro-enterprises into Sendirian Berhad companies.

“This framework achieved a significant milestone when United Asiapac Energy Berhad was successfully listed on the ACE Market of Bursa Malaysia on 14 September 2026, with a market capitalisation of RM192.50 million and RM48.74 million in funds raised.

“Nine other Sarawak Bumiputera companies have been identified for potential listing, including two targeted for 2027,” it said in a statement.

MINTRED noted that the Sarawak Government also aims to expand Bumiputera participation in high-growth sectors such as hydrogen, petrochemicals, advanced manufacturing, aerospace and semiconductors, in line with the Post Covid-19 Development Strategy (PCDS) 2030.

At the same time, the Sarawak Government encourages collaboration between Bumiputera and non-Bumiputera companies through joint ventures, technology partnerships, vendor development and market access.

“This approach is crucial for shaping a more holistic, inclusive and complementary business ecosystem in Sarawak while enabling local companies to grow together within regional and global supply chains,” it said.

Meanwhile, talent development is being further enhanced through Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) programmes at CENTEXS and Sarawak Skills, as well as collaborations with federal agencies, while RM250 million has been allocated for the implementation of the Free Tertiary Education Scheme (FTES) beginning in 2026.

MINTRED added that through close cooperation between Sarawak and Federal Government, alongside stronger collaboration between the public and private sectors, Sarawak aims to build a more robust, inclusive, and competitive enterprise ecosystem, enabling more local companies to expand into regional and global markets. -UKASnews