KUCHING: Sarawak recorded RM11.2 billion in approved investments across the primary, manufacturing, and services sectors for the first half of 2026.

Sarawak Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hasan said this achievement continues Sarawak’s investment momentum after successfully securing RM116 billion in approved investments between 2021 and 2025.

According to him, Sarawak must ensure that received investments not only generate economic growth, but also forge stronger linkages with local economies and domestic players.

“We want investments, whether Domestic Direct Investments (DDI) or Foreign Direct Investments (FDI), to generate quality employment opportunities, technology and knowledge transfer, stronger local enterprises, and broader market access,” he said.

He said this in his speech at the Opening Ceremony of the Sarawak Global Supply Chain & Sourcing 2026 at a leading hotel here on Tuesday.

He added that Sarawak's economic transformation is currently opening up opportunities in advanced manufacturing and semiconductors, green energy, downstream oil, gas and petrochemicals, green metals, hydrogen and clean technology, digital economy, artificial intelligence (AI), aerospace, precision engineering, agriculture, and food manufacturing.

Accordingly, he noted that major investments at strategic industrial locations such as Kuching, Bintulu, and Miri must be linked more effectively with Sarawakian businesses in engineering, maintenance, logistics, technology, professional services, manufacturing, digital solutions, and specialised services.

In the meantime, Datuk Amar Awang Tengah emphasised that participating in global supply chains requires innovation, discipline, and continuous improvement to meet global clients' demand for quality, reliability, competitiveness and innovation, as well as Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) standards.

Therefore, he stated that capable Sarawakian companies must be identified and systematically prepared to fulfill the procurement needs of major investors.

"This means strengthening certification, quality standards, management systems, production capacity, financial readiness, technology adoption, and delivery reliability," he explained.

Also present were Deputy Minister for International Trade, Industry and Investment Sarawak Datuk Dr. Malcolm Mussen Lamoh, Permanent Secretary to the Ministry of International Trade, Industry and Investment Sarawak (MINTRED) Datu Lester Matthew, MINTRED Advisor Dato Sri Mohd Naroden Majais, alongside other dignitaries. — UKASnews

Prepared by: Ahmad Daniel Faiz
Translator: Ryan Lim