KUCHING: The proposed New Kuching International Airport (NKIA) is a key part of the integrated Kuching low-carbon hub masterplan at Tanjung Embang here, says Tan Sri Abang Johari Openg.
The Sarawak Premier said Tanjung Embang was well-positioned to become a competitive low-carbon gateway for trade, logistics and green industries, with its prime location and shared infrastructure.
"NKIA will be developed as a future-ready aviation hub, with an initial capacity of 15 million passengers a year, scalable to 60 million.
"It will improve passenger travel, air cargo logistics and maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) services," he told the Sarawak Legislative Assembly in his winding-up speech on Wednesday (May 20).
Abang Johari said another key element of the Tanjung Embang initiative is a deep sea port to facilitate connectivity, support trade and expand Sarawak's participation in regional and global supply chains.
He said the port will handle larger cargo volumes, support industrial expansion and connect Sarawak more effectively to global trade, while complementing hubs such as Bintulu and Samalaju.
"We are in the process of finalising the detailed masterplan, with physical and infrastructure development expected to begin in 2027 through a public-private partnership (PPP) approach," he added.
Abang Johari also said the state government was formulating the Sarawak PPP Masterplan 2026-2035 to improve governance and coordination.
He said the masterplan will also refine PPP models and adopt transparent project evaluation methods, while ensuring greater efficiency, accountability and consistency in project execution.
"With a comprehensive PPP framework in place, we are confident that Sarawak will secure greater private investment and accelerate progress in key economic and enabler sectors," he said.
