SARAWAK recorded RM10.43 billion in preliminary approved investment as of third quarter of this year, said Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hasan.
The International Trade and Investment Minister said Domestic Direct Investment (DDI) accounted for RM7.18 billion, while Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) contributed RM3.25 billion.
“The manufacturing sector led with 55.7 per cent of the investments, totalling RM5.81 billion.
“This was followed by the services sector at 28.5 per cent (RM2.97 billion) and the primary sector at 15.8 per cent (RM1.65 billion),” he said during his ministerial winding-up speech on Wednesday.
He said the investments involved 212 projects and are expected to create approximately 5,400 new jobs.
Major manufacturing investments, he said, included RM2 billion in chemicals and chemical products (urea, melamine, fertiliser), RM1.2 billion in electrical and electronic products (solar ingots, wafers, cells, modules), and RM800 million in non-metallic mineral products (cement and clinker).
Awang Tengah noted that 57 per cent of 356 approved manufacturing and related services projects since 2020 have been realised.
“Sarawak continues to attract and facilitate investors in high-tech industries, including electronics, sustainable fuels, renewable energy and composite materials, which adds to our unique comparative advantage as an appealing destination for cutting-edge technology industries,” he added.
On trade, Sarawak recorded a 4.7 per cent increase in total trade, rising to RM147.5 billion from RM140.9 billion in the same period in 2023.
He said exports rose 5.9 per cent to RM99.8 billion from RM94.3 billion, driven by LNG, palm oil, crude petroleum, and aluminium products.
He also said imports increased by 2.5 per cent to RM47.7 billion, with refined petroleum products, aluminium ores and concentrates, and motor vehicles being the top imports.
“Our top foreign trading partners are Japan, China, the Republic of Korea, India, and Thailand.
“Major traded products include LNG, crude petroleum, palm oil, aluminium and refined petroleum products.
“Consumption goods rose from RM8.3 billion to RM9.8 billion during the same period, indicating stronger domestic demand and economic growth,” he added.
