Awang Tengah (fifth right) looking at the souvenir given to him by Lou Xiaojuan as Mussen and other members of the delegation look on.

KUCHING: Sarawak remains an attractive destination for investors due to several factors, including its political stability.

Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hasan, pointed out the other equally important factors are the clear policy of the government, business friendly approach and having a legal framework where investors are feeling safe over their investments in the state.

He also mentioned the competent civil service, available electricity and water supply, and competitive land prices which are the attraction for investors.

“The approaches undertaken by the state and the facilities made available continue to become an attraction for investors coming to the state, and we (state) will continue to become business friendly to attract more investors,”
Awang Tengah, who is also Minister of Industrial and Entrepreneur Development told reporters yesterday.

He had earlier received a courtesy call from a delegation from Department of Commerce, Yunnan Province, China at his office in Wisma Sumber Alam, Petra Jaya here.

Besides the courtesy call, the delegation had also visited Longi (Kuching) Sdn Bhd at Sama Jaya Free Industrial Zone, an investment from China dealing in solar panels.

Awang Tengah also said local workers who are trainable was another factor which attracts investors.

He cited the 10,000 workforce in Sama Jaya Free Industrial Zone who are 99 per cent locals and easy to train.

On the visit, Awang Tengah said it was a follow up visit following a visit by the state delegation to Yunnan Province from Feb 22 to 24 this year, during which a Memorandum of Investment, Trade and Economic Cooperation was signed.

“It is their first visit here (to the state) to explore what they are interested in (investment) and I have briefed them on the opportunities and the areas they can invest in. The visit will provide them an overview of the opportunities in the state,” he pointed out.

The delegation is led by Lou Xiaojuan, deputy director of Department of Commerce, Yunnan Province.

The group consists of officers from both government and business sector.

“It is hoped that this follow up visit to the state will foster better relationship as well as enhance economic co-operation between Yunnan Province and Sarawak,” Awang Tengah stressed.

Also present was Assistant Minister of Industries and Investment Malcolm Mussen Lamoh.