KUCHING: Sarawak’s plans to build an international airport and a new port in the state’s capital are two mega projects that will boost the state’s economy for the long term.
Premier Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg said both projects will be equipped with advanced technology and international standard facilities, thus making Kuching a strategic location for the shipping and aviation sectors in the region.
“This will be a catalyst to boost our economic development, especially in terms of connectivity, tourism and institutions that can develop our economy as a whole, beyond 2030.
“Both of these are strategic plans in us becoming a hub because we are in the western part of Borneo and among (those contributing to) the shipping traffic and also flights from west to east Borneo,” he said during a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signing between Innocement Sdn Bhd and PMW Industries Sdn Bhd, which aims to establish a manufacturing facility in Tanjung Manis for concrete piles, poles and related products.
According to Abang Johari, Doha International Airport, Qatar will be used as a model for the development of the new airport.
“We are now (in the process of) appointing experts who may be involved in the planning (of the new airport). I think it is estimated to be completed within 3 years so we are in the planning stage,” he said.
Guidance from World Bank Needed for Global Carbon Trade
At the same time, the Sarawak government has sought cooperation from the World Bank to assess the accounting principles needed to be used in the assessment of the global carbon trade, said Abang Johari.
He added that the cooperation is important considering that carbon trading as a new form of trade is quite risky and Sarawak needs guidance from the World Bank as a credible global body.
“We need to work with credible parties since there are people who will try to deceive or bogus consultants. So, we have to be guided by the World Bank,” he commented.
According to him, due to the absence of a protocol for the calculation of carbon in world trade, the London Protocol of 1996, which is an international agreement regarding the regulation of carbon transfer across borders, has become the baseline.
Abang Johari said he had also informed Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim about the need for the central government to improve the existing legislation regarding the energy business to include matters related to carbon trading.
— BERNAMA
