Awang Tengah (fifth left) presents an award to Abang Nuzul. They are flanked by Naroden (fourth left) and Liaw. — Photo by Roystein Emmor

KUCHING: Sarawak has remained the third top investment destination in Malaysia for the past six years.

Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hasan says this is due to the Sarawak government providing a conducive ecosystem for investors.

“This is proven with Sarawak’s position as an investment destination in Malaysia since six years ago until now. It is further proven with the approval of 43 investment projects by the Industrial Co-ordination Committee valued at RM17.85 billion and this is the achievement of our state despite the current global economic downturn,” he said at the Minister of International Trade and Industry, Industrial Terminal and Entrepreneur Development Appreciation Night on Thursday.

Awang Tengah, who is Minister of International Trade and Industry, Industrial Terminal and Entrepreneur Development, called upon the ministry’s staff to be more proactive in the effort to make Sarawak the best investment destination in the country.

He said this was important to generate economic activities and create more employment opportunities.

Awang Tengah pointed out Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg had approved RM30 million to implement micro-credit and other aid schemes to help entrepreneurs and small and medium enterprises.

During the recently-tabled Sarawak Budget 2020, the ministry was allocated RM101.9 million, of which RM82.9 million would be for developing industrial parks and business facilities; RM4.8 million for investment promotion initiatives, trade including e-commerce; and RM6.6 million for entrepreneur development, he said.

At the event, he also presented the service excellence awards to Ratna Herry, Walter Samuel Nangar, Abang Nuzul Abang Ahmad, Zaidin Bujang, Millia Tan Sapawi, and Masjuliawathy Mohamad. Among those present were Assistant Minister of International Trade and Industry, Industrial Terminal and Entrepreneur Development Datuk Mohd Naroden Majais and Ministry permanent secretary Datu Liaw Soon Eng.