Samalaju Industrial Park draws RM25b investments

KUCHING: Samalaju Industrial Park (SIP) in Bintulu, Sarawak, the biggest single industrial park in Malaysia, has attracted and approved 16 projects with a total investment of RM25.29 billion, said Sarawak State Secretary Tan Sri Mohamad Morshidi Abdul Ghani.

He said the 16 projects approved so far would create 13,302 job opportunities and, in the immediate years ahead, could create a significant industrial base that can generate more employment and business opportunities.

"We have been successful in attracting energy-intensive industries to establish their operations in SIP, one of the five growth nodes in the Sarawak Corridor of Renewable Energy (SCORE) development plan to accelerate the industrialisation process in the state," he said at the opening of a conference on industrial by-product management and business opportunities at the Borneo Convention Centre Kuching in Kuching on Monday.

Morshidi said five companies have started operations in SIP.

He said like any other greenfield development, SIP is in the initial stage focused on the provision of basic infrastructure such as access roads, water and electricity supplies as well as the services required by the industries.

To enhance transportation and logistics support in the industrial park, Samalaju Port is in the final stage of construction and will be fully operational next year, he said.

The state government is also developing an integrated waste management system, whether for disposal, recovery or reuse of wastes generated in SIP, including an international-standard waste management centre to be located in Maskat, Bintulu, he said.

Even though these wastes can become business opportunities, the government will not compromise when it comes to environment and safety of users, he said, pointing out that the state government wants to see SIP as a place to work and live where people can enjoy the benefits of a well-planned city.

The two-day conference, which ends tomorrow, was attended by industry players and experts in the waste management, cement, construction and property development sectors, and featured speakers from Germany, the UK, France, Norway, Japan, South Korea, China and Malaysia. - Bernama