Sarawak Ready To Lead In Promoting Sustainable Global Economy - Abang Johari

KUCHING, Oct 10 (Bernama) -- Sarawak is ready to learn and lead in promoting a just and sustainable global economy through the development of green and renewable energy, sustainable agriculture or digital innovation.

State Premier Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg said their post-COVID-19 development strategy 2030 (PCDS 2030) is Sarawak’s roadmap to achieving a sustainable economy. 

“The PCDS 2030 encompasses key initiatives such as enhancing digital infrastructure and promoting green technology, ensuring that progress is equitable and beneficial for all communities,” he said.

Delivering his keynote address at the inaugural Sarawak Future Forum, which focuses on exploring economic development strategies and opportunities here, today, he said the state is charting a new course that aligns economic growth with ecological responsibility by integrating economic revitalisation with sustainability and innovation.

“In Sarawak, we recognise that true prosperity must go beyond economic output. It is our vision to build a strong, diversified and sustainable economy that benefits all Sarawakians,” he said.

Abang Johari said Sarawak's focus is shifting to decouple economic growth from carbon emissions and resource depletion to a green economy that prioritises sustainable development while minimising environmental degradation, to ensure long-term resilience. 

To promote sustainable agriculture, he said the state is pioneering hybrid paddy cultivation and artificial intelligence (AI)-driven farming to boost rural productivity and income to reduce poverty and improve living standards.

“These efforts also support our rice self-sufficiency target by 2027 to ensure sustainable agricultural practices that benefit farmers and meet broader sustainability goals, reducing reliance on imported rice, strengthening food security and ensuring the competitiveness of Sarawak's agricultural sector,” he said.

On digital innovation, he said the Sarawak government had invested substantially in developing high-speed internet, 5G networks and fibre-optic connectivity to foster new economic sectors, while allowing equitable access to digital infrastructure that promotes inclusive growth across urban and rural areas.

“At the heart of our development strategy is the principle of inclusivity. We are determined to ensure that the benefits of economic progress are shared by all segments of society.

“Social equity must be a guiding principle as we develop policies and programmes that ensure every Sarawakian, regardless of background, has access to opportunities for education, employment, and entrepreneurship,” he added.

About 500 participants took part in the one-day forum organised by the Sarawak Centre of Performance Excellence (SCOPE), which featured American economist and recipient of the Nobel Memorial Prize in Economic Sciences, Professor Joseph Stiglitz.

-- BERNAMA