KUCHING: Sarawak has transformed from a traditional agrarian economy relying on agriculture and forestry into a more diversified and dynamic economy, over six decades.
Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg said the state’s gross domestic product (GDP) value has increased 20 times, from a mere RM7 billion in 1963 to RM140 billion in 2022.
Sarawak, he said, has observed a surge in the mean monthly household income, which has grown by an impressive 3.4 fold, rising from RM1,800 in 1995 to RM6,400 in 2022.
“This growth in household income is attributed to our economic policy and development that created more business and employment opportunities for our people.
“Our inclusive socio-economic development has enabled us to reduce the incidence of poverty in Sarawak from 32 per cent in 1985 to 10 per cent last year,” he said.
Speaking at the closing of the two-day Malaysia Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) Summit 2023: Sarawak Region held here Tuesday, Abang Johari said he had initiated various programmes to expand the coverage of roads, water and electricity supply and telecommunications to all settlements in Sarawak since 2017.
Currently, the coverage of water supply has reached 84 per cent whilst electricity supply has reached almost 100 per cent.
The Sarawak government, he said, targeted to have full coverage of water and electricity supply under the Post Covid-19 Development Strategies 2030 (PCDS 2030).
For food security, he said, Sarawak is adopting technology to increase agriculture productivity not only for domestic consumption but also for export.
“Our aim is to be net food exporter by 2030, especially to support growing food demand in the Southeast Asia which currently has a 688 million population and wider Asian market of 4.8 billion people.
“In other words, we will be one of the food production regions for more than half of the world population,” he added.
