KUCHING: The Sarawak government has invited Australia to collaborate in the fields of biopharmaceutical research and development (R&D), education, tourism, and agriculture.
Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hasan said currently the volume of trade between Sarawak and Australia was still small and there was still a lot of room to be explored to increase trade.
“The total trade between Sarawak and Australia was worth RM3.4 billion in 2020. Sarawak’s exports to Australia were worth RM1.5 billion, mainly crude petroleum, plywood, and urea while the value of our imports from Australia was RM1.8 billion, mainly tin and aluminium,” he said.
He said this in a statement in conjunction with a courtesy call he received from Australian High Commissioner to Malaysia Dr Justin Lee at the former’s office here today.
Awang Tengah said the Sarawak government welcomed Australian companies to explore investment opportunities in Sarawak, especially hydrogen fuel and the digital economy. He added Australia was strong in these sectors.
He also highlighted the potential for R&D cooperation in Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO), which has advanced facilities and technology which could benefit industries in Sarawak.
Sarawak also has large forest area and the potential for carbon credit trade development, aside from moving towards high-value downstream timber-based activities, he added.
