KUCHING: Sarawak’s Trade and Tourism Office in Robinson Road, Singapore will see its soft opening sometime this week.
Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg revealed that the office which is strategically located in the centre of Singapore would facilitate the promotion of the state’s agricultural and tourism products.
“I believe Sarawakians can produce quality crops to meet the global demand,” he said during the state-level Gawai Dinner 2019 at Imperial Hotel here on Saturday night.
He said it was imperative for farmers to leave with the old ways of subsistence farming and apply digital technology in agriculture and modern farming methods such as fertigation in order to produce quality corps.
“I’ve met a village head in Sibu, he is planting chillies by using fertigation, and sells it for RM20 per kg. This is a good example of modern farming… and when we have cumulative production, we can even sell our chilies to Singapore,” he stressed.
He said when the agriculture sector is modernised, it would help boost the farmer’s income level and also the state’s economy.
“The Sarawak government under Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) will also ensure that with the additional revenue from the five percent petroleum sales tax, it will be allocated for the development of basic infrastructure, utilities, and technology infrastructure particularly in the rural areas,” he pointed out.
Meanwhile, Abang Johari said he always have a special interest in and support for the Gawai Dayak celebration.
“During Gawai, perhaps it is appropriate for us to remember how Gawai Dayak was declared as a public holiday… It was moved by the late Datuk Seri Tra Zehnder in the Council Negeri in 1962, supported by my late father Tun Abang Openg Abang Sapiee, and only later it was approved in 1964.
“And we also have to thank the Almighty that Sarawakians continue to enjoy the peace and harmony among the multiracial societyton this day. With our strong bonding and understanding we are able to strive towards a better future for Sarawak.”
