NEW YORK CITY: Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hasan recently led a state government delegation for a full day of honorary visit and briefing session with Intergovernmental Affairs United Nation Environment Programme (UNEP) director here, Jamil Ahmad.
Later in the afternoon, a bilateral meeting was held with Assistant Secretary-General, Assistant Administrator and Director of the Regional Bureau for Asia and the Pacific, United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Kanni Wignaraja.
In his welcoming speech, he said that the objectives and goals achieved during the official visit were, first and foremost, creating understanding and providing knowledge for the preparation of policies, guidelines and a more comprehensive land use zoning in coastal area development planning and urban renewal.
“Another objective and goal was to obtain information on the provisions of law, regulations or policies required so that development in coastal areas and urban renewal can be carried out more effectively and efficiently.
“Additionally, another objective was giving exposure to issues and challenges as well as measures or strategies in dealing with issues and challenges in the development of costal areas and urban renewal
“Last but not least is to gain knowledge, experience and input on urban renewal and coastal development,” Awang, who is also the Minister of International Trade and Investment and Minister of Natural Resources and Urban Development of Sarawak, said.
In addition, he also shared information with senior officials at UNEP and UNDP regarding the Sarawak government’s initiative to make Sarawak a developed state by 2030 through the Post COVID-19 Development Strategy 2030 (PCDS) which is based on economic structure, business facilities, expenditure targets, optimising assets and human capital, digital and implementation, social inclusion and environmental sustainability.
He added that his ministry also works closely with the United Nations under the UNDP through the Sarawak Biodiversity Masterplan project which is currently in the implementation stage and the State Urban Development Policy in the paper evaluation proposal stage.
These initiatives have received praise and appreciation from the United Nations in which the Sarawak government has a vision and aspiration to transform Sarawak into a developed state by 2030 with sustainable development planning from all aspects.
Also present were 10 members of the delegation consisting of Urban Planning, Land Administration and Environment Deputy Minister Datuk Len Talif Salleh, Ministry of International Trade and Investment Adviser Datuk Mohd Naroden Majais, senior officials from the Ministry of Natural Resources and Urban Development of Sarawak, Department of Land and Survey Sarawak and Consulate General of Malaysia in New York, Mr Mohammed Iylia Omar.
