KUCHING: Sarawak has the potential to replicate the success of Scandinavian countries in creating global food brands, said Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg.
He pointed out that the economies of countries like Sweden, Finland, Denmark and Norway are agriculture based – which Sarawak is striving towards.
“Earlier in my career, I was in charge of agriculture for Sarawak as an assistant minister and I observed that the most developed in Europe that are also based on agriculture are the Scandinavian countries.
“If you look at these countries, one of the companies that has been very successful on a global scale is Nestlé. Nestlé is a company that gives value to all the raw materials in the agro-industry.
“Nestlé has become a global brand and its contribution to global growth is huge,” he said when attending the Ministry of Food Industry, Commodity, and Regional Development’s Majlis Ngiling Bidai Gawai Dayak event on Saturday (July 1).
He said the Scandinavian countries managed to thrive in agriculture as well as fisheries despite their low population.
“Sarawak has a large land mass with a population of only three million. What we are doing is to explore new industries and upgrade our basic infrastructures.
“This includes roads for market access as well as basic needs such as electricity and water supply and by 2025, we will ensure that this is covered in the aspect of infrastructure development.
“We need to be bold enough to spend money on basic infrastructure as well as accessibility and that will give ample opportunities for us to develop our food industry”.
At the same time, Abang Johari said the development of the food industry has been tasked under the Ministry of Food Industry, Commodity and Regional Development.
“This includes commodities such as sago and pepper with a potential extension to the production of cocoa and coffee in the future.
“I think these are areas that will give impetus to our economic development that is based on agriculture. I think the Ministry is looking to shift from just subsistence and focusing towards strengthening the food industry,” he said.
Also present during the event were Abang Johari’s wife, Puan Sri Datuk Amar Juma’ani Tuanku Bujang; Deputy Premiers Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas and Dato Sri Dr Sim Kui Hian; Sarawak Legislative Assembly (DUN) Speaker Tan Sri Mohamad Asfia Awang Nassar and wife Puan Sri Fatimah Mohamad Iskandar; Minister of Food Industry, Commodity and Regional Development Dato Sri Dr Stephen Rundi Utom and wife Datin Sri Loreta Sawot; Deputy Minister of Food Industry, Commodity and Regional Development (Food Industry) Datuk Dr Abdul Rahman Ismail; and Deputy Minister of Food Industry, Commodity and Regional Development (Commodity & Regional Development) Martin Ben as well as Satok assemblyman Datuk Ibrahim Baki.
