S’wak places order for cargo plane to boost export of food products
SIBU: The state government will have its own cargo plane to boost efforts to turn Sarawak into a net exporter of food-based products in the region.
Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg told a dialogue session organised by the Sarawak Chamber of Commerce here today that the government has placed an order for the cargo plane.
“The plane has been booked. It’s a Cessna-type aircraft,” he said.
Abang Johari said the order was made through state-owned Hornbill Skyways.
He, however, said the only obstacle now was the long waiting queue, adding apparently there were several bookings for a similar aircraft model.
Sarawak, which produces a range of in-demand food products, has long been keen on becoming a major agro-based food products exporter for the region.
The chief minister believed the cargo aircraft would expedite efforts to achieve the state’s goal of becoming a net exporter of food products by 2030.
To meet this goal, the state government in December last year had adopted the ‘anchor company’ model.
(Anchor companies are firms that have experience in upstream activities, which include planting, processing facilities and a ready market.)
Under the model, the anchor companies will take the lead role, thus enabling the food-based industries to leapfrog Sarawak into the export-oriented agro-based market.
Later, Abang Johari attended the Young Entrepreneur’s Incubation Hub (EIH) and presentation of prizes to winners of Young Entrepreneurs Competition organised by the Sibu Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI).
The chief minister, who is on one-day visit here also officiated at the ground-breaking ceremony for the building expansion project of United Chinese Association (UCA) Sibu Division in Wisma UCA, here.
