SARAWAK is considering establishing a Trade and Tourism Office (Stato) in the upcoming new Indonesian capital in Kalimantan.
“However, it may take another five to ten years to translate this intent into reality,” said International Trade and Industry, Industrial Terminal and Entrepreneur Development Assistant Minister Datuk Malcom Mussen Lamoh (pic).
He added that meanwhile, the state government would proceed with Stato in Pontianak soon, which will function to promote and enhance trade and tourism between Sarawak and Indonesia.
He was replying to a
question from Dr Hazland Abang Hipni (GPS-Demak Laut) in the State Legislative Assembly
yesterday.
Through existing platforms for cooperation with Kalimantan such as Brunei Darussalam-Indonesia-Malaysia-Philippines East Asean Growth Area (BIMP-EAGA) and Kerjasama Sosial-Ekonomi Malaysia-Indonesia (Sosek Malindo), he said that several initiatives have been discussed and planned.
“These initiatives pertain to facilitation of cross-border movement of goods and services, harmonisation of cross-border policies and regulations, and economic cooperation,” the Batang Ai assemblyman elaborated.
Malcom said that having a new capital city of Indonesia within close proximity to Sarawak would open up more bilateral collaborations in business and economic opportunities for Sarawak.
Malcom also highlighted the various current collaborations between Sarawak and Kalimantan, such as the Sarawak-West Kalimantan Interconnection Project, the power exchange agreement between Sarawak Energy Berhad (SEB) and PT Perusahaan Listrik Negara Persero (PLN).
