KUCHING: Sarawak will continue to attract more Indonesians for medical and education tourism.
Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas said this is by leveraging on the availability of private medical clinics and hospitals as well as private higher learning institutions such as Curtin University, Swinburne University, Limkokwing University, UCSI University, and University Technology of Sarawak.
“Presently, Sarawak receives a high number of Indonesian arrivals seeking treatments at various private hospitals and clinics as well as Indonesian students pursuing their studies in various private higher learning institutions in major towns in Sarawak,” he said.
Uggah, who is also Second Finance and New Economy Minister said this in his winding-up speech at the State Legislative Assembly (DUN) sitting on Today (Dec 1).
At the same time, he said, Sarawak is expected to gain from the relocation of Indonesia’s new capital from Jakarta to East Kalimantan.
“In this regard, the state government will pursue closer economic cooperation with the Indonesian government especially in Kalimantan in various fields,” he said.
He said among the major initiatives are the development of cross-border economy through manufacturing and trade, taking advantage of the natural resources and agriculture produces from Kalimantan that could be utilised for downstream processing activities in Sarawak.
In addition, he added Sarawak has port facilities that provided faster and better shipping linkages to major economies like China and India.
“To facilitate trade and ensure better networking and communication among the industry players, investors and business communities, both from Sarawak and Indonesia, the state government will also establish a Trade and Tourism Office in Pontianak, West Kalimantan, that will have similar functions like Sarawak Trade and Tourism Office Singapore (STATOS) in Singapore,” said Uggah.
