THE Sarawak government is currently evaluating a proposal for the establishment of a hyperscale green data centre worth RM17.6 billion.
Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hasan said the state is now focusing on promoting digital and green economy, leveraging on renewable energy and decarbonisation solutions such as carbon trading and innovative climate mitigation and adaptation technology.
“We aspire to be a regional leader in innovation and technology-based economy,” he said.
Awang Tengah, who is also the Minister of International Trade, Industry and Investment said this in his winding-up speech inthe State Legislative Assembly (DUN) today.
He said Sarawak is also becoming more prominent as a destination for digital investment and it will continue to diversify its digital investment portfolio to build a robust ecosystem.
On September, it was previously reported that a hyperscale green data centre testbed and a training programme will be established in Sarawak through the collaboration involving clean energy solutions provider Solarvest Holdings Bhd, the Sarawak Foundation’s subsidiary Centre for Technology Excellence Sarawak (Centexs), Huawei Technologies (Malaysia) Sdn Bhd, and GreenBay CES Sdn Bhd.
Solarvest’s subsidiary Solarvest Borneo Sdn Bhd also has inked a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the other three companies in Beijing, China, towards fostering the hyperscale green data centre industry in the Borneo region.
On investment, he said despite the sluggish global economy, Sarawak recorded RM16.69 billion worth of investments for the first three quarters of this year.
“Manufacturing sector contributed 68 per cent of the total investment, followed by 19 per cent from the primary sector and 13 per cent from the services sector. These investments are expected to create more than 4,500 jobs.
“The manufacturing sector was the largest contributor for investment, attracting RM11.37 billion worth of investment from 73 projects mainly in non-metallic mineral products, basic metal products and electrical and electronic products,” he said.
Awang Tengah said the investment climate remains favourable, domestic and foreign investors continue to place confidence in Sarawak and this is evident in the newly approved manufacturing related investments.
“The newly approved manufacturing related investments include non-metallic mineral products (graphite) of RM6.3 billion; chemical and chemical products (Epichlorohydrin or ECH and fertiliser) of RM769 million; and basic metal products (steel pipe) of RM62 million,” he said.
Awang Tengah said existing investors are also taking advantage of this and expanding their presence in Sarawak, mainly in basic metal products (copper foil and building materials) involving RM2.3 billion; electrical and electronics products (wafer probing & IC testing and solar ingot & wafer) involving RM1.2 billion; and chemical and chemical products (fertiliser) involving RM154 million.
“Sarawak has been receiving new investment proposals from both foreign and domestic investors, including components for batteries used in electric vehicles involving RM5 billion; green metal (RM2.59 billion); and medical gloves (RM1.5 billion),” he said.
He added investment in mining was the main contributor to the primary sector with four main projects from oil and gas upstream activities worth RM2.7 billion.
“These projects are located offshore of Miri and Bintulu, namely Helang (RM624 million); D18 (RM766 million); F6 (RM792 million); and E11 Shallow Clastics (RM566 million),” he said.
