BINTULU: The Jepak constituency will experience rapid changes once the Bintulu-Jepak Bridge is fully completed by 2025.
Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hasan said under the development master plan for the area, Jepak would be developed as a new administrative hub within Bintulu.
He also said a range of development initiatives is in the works for Jepak, with the aim to establish it as a focal point for socioeconomic development.
“The Master Plan also includes village expansion schemes, resettlement schemes, and affordable, low-cost housing projects,” he said.
He said this when officiating at the launch of the Digital Entrepreneurship Awareness Programme at Jepak Community Hall here on Monday (Oct 30).
Later, when met by reporters, Awang Tengah said that Bintulu currently stands as a prime investment centre housing diverse industries.
“One prominent industrial park is the Samalaju Industrial Park (SIP), dedicated to energy-intensive and petrochemical industries.
“It has generated 8,300 employment opportunities, with 83 percent of the workforce being locals and an impressive export value of RM18.4 billion recorded in 2022,” he said.
Awang Tengah, who is also the Minister for International Trade, Industry and Investment (MINTRED), said the ministry has embarked on developing the Samalaju Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) Cluster within the SIP, covering an area of 52.8 acres and with a development cost exceeding RM31.5 million.
“As such, Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) should take advantage of this opportunity,” he said.
On another note, he said the Sarawak government has allocated RM60 million through his ministry for the implementation of the Sarawak Micro Credit Scheme.
“At the same time, MINTRED has introduced the Go Digital Sarawak Programme, providing assistance totaling RM10,000 to entrepreneurs seeking digital equipment and resources to expand their businesses.
“To date, this programme has benefited 1,100 SMEs, with approvals reaching RM11 million,” he said.
