KUCHING: Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas wants the state port managements to be prepared to modernise, innovate and adopt new technologies.
He said with Sarawak hoping to become a high income state by 2030, the ports would be having increasing and more important roles.
“The plan is for us to export more food products by then. Thus, the ports will be very crucial components of the development,” he said when visiting the Senari Port here on Sunday (Jan 8).
The visit was his first to a port after he was appointed as the Minister for Infrastructure and Ports Development in the state Cabinet reshuffle after the recent 12th state election.
Uggah said the process of modernisation would include looking at new management style and improving or enhancing all essential facilities.
“At the same, it includes looking at port models around the world and set your benchmark on the successful ones.
“We in the ministry will be proactive to ensuring your growth in the direction,” Uggah said, adding that the state ports had a lot of potentials and could be just as competitive as those in the regions.
“Let us leverage on the spirit of ‘Sarawak Boleh’ to rise to the occasion,” he said pertaining to the Senari Port being operated by the Kuching Port Authority (KPA) adding that it should find ways to improve its productivity.
At the same time it must come up with planning to meet new challenges now and in the future.
He thanked the port chairman Datuk Awang Bemee Awang Ali Basah and KPA general manager Robert Lau Hong Thiam for the visit and briefings on the port activities and expansion programme.
Uggah was joined by his Assistant Ministers Datuk Majang Renggi and Aidel Lariwoo as well as his ministry permanent secretary Datuk Safri Zainudin on the visit.
