BY VIVYNNA ANN CHABU
THE manufacturing sector recorded RM2.4 billion worth of investment involving 30 projects in the first quarter of 2024.
Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hasan said the manufacturing sector contributed the highest share of investments at 40.3 per cent or RM9.2 billion, followed by the services sector at 38.6 per cent or RM8.8 billion and the primary sector at 21.1 per cent or RM4.8 billion.
“These investments are expected to create more than 2,000 employment opportunities.
“The focus is mainly in chemical products (urea and melamine) with investment worth RM1.7 billion, basic metal products (metallic silicon and molten aluminium) at RM436 million, and non-metallic mineral products (cement and concrete) at RM143 million,” he said.
He said this when delivering his ministerial winding-up speech at the Sarawak State Legislative Assembly (DUN) sitting here Wednesday (May 15).
Awang Tengah, who is International Trade, Industry and Investment Minister said Sarawak continues to attract new investment interests and expansion from both Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) and Domestic Direct Investment (DDI).
He said these include new investment interests and expansions in various sectors, including a solar glass project and silica sand mining valued at RM6.5 billion, a data centre investment worth RM18.6 billion, and an expansion initiative for manufacturing battery components valued at RM1 billion.
Additionally, Awang Tengah said Sarawak had recorded RM22.8 billion of approved investments in services, manufacturing and primary sectors in 2023.
“DDI was the main contributor at 65.8 per cent or RM15 billion while FDI contributed 34.2 per cent or RM7.8 billion.
“These approved investments involved 339 projects, which potentially creates 4,500 job opportunities.”
Meanwhile, the manufacturing sector contributed 27.7 per cent to the total Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of Sarawak in 2023, which created 4,200 employment opportunities.
“The approved investments were primarily focused on electrical and electronic products (including semiconductors, wafers, testing, and probing) amounting to RM3.4 billion, basic metal (such as copper foil and building materials) totalling RM2.6 billion, and chemical products (including ECH and fertiliser) at RM1.3 billion.
“Half of the approved projects from 2023 have already been realised, particularly in the E&E, basic metal, chemical, and food product industries,” he added.
