The Australia Malaysia Business Chamber Western Australia (AMBCWA) is planning for a Sarawak Strategic Alliance Mission, from the 4-11 July 2023 that will feature over ten companies and organisations from Western Australia visiting Sarawak to support business trade and investment.
The Kuching Chinese General Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCGCCI) invited AMBCWA and Western Australia to participate in their 133rd Anniversary Event 7-10th July 2023 in Kuching, Sarawak, Malaysia. The AMBCWA planned mission will also feature a reception by the Australian High Commissioner in Malaysia in Kuala Lumpur, liaison with the Malaysia Australia Business Council (MABC) in Kuala Lumpur, meetings with Sarawak Business Federation (SBF), meetings with Sarawak Government Leaders including the Premier of Sarawak, meetings with Curtin University Malaysia representatives and briefings by Sarawak Government agencies.
‘AMBCWA was established as a business, investment and trade oriented body to support businesses, organisations and government in Western Australia and Malaysia to work together towards enhancing economic and cultural ties and the Sarawak Strategic Alliance Mission is very much in support of building AMBCWA ties with Malaysia,’ said Keith Anthonisz, President of AMBCWA.
AMBCWA along with AMBCWA Patron, the Consul General of Malaysia in Perth, Ahmad Fikri Zakian have been building ties with Sarawak since 2019 when a Sarawak delegation attended the Malaysia Business Forum at the Westin Hotel. The Malaysia Business Forum event featured the High Commissioner of Malaysia in Australia and a range of Malaysia Government and industry speakers covering investment, trade, tourism, property development, agriculture, aged care and mineral processing/manufacture. Sarawak Industry was represented by KCGCCI. Since 2019, AMBCWA has worked towards maintaining and expanding linkages with Sarawak and Western Australia despite COVID 19 restricting these efforts.
Collaboration has included AMBCWA completing a Sarawak Market Research Report in 2020 with the support of the Department of Jobs, Tourism, Science and Innovation (JTSI) of the Western Australian Government and work with the Sarawak Government for a Webinar for Business Matching held in 2022 where a total of 153 participants took part in three breakout sessions covering 1) Information Technology and Cyber Security, 2) Renewable Energy, Hydrogen and Climate Solutions and 3) Agriculture, Food and Timber Industries. In 2022 AMBCWA made its first trip to Sarawak post COVID 19 where the Sarawak Business Federation (SBF) and the AMBCWA signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) in Kuching on working together to support opportunities in Sarawak and Western Australia in promoting trade and investment. In 2022 AMBCWA also met with Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hasan of the Sarawak Government and his delegation during his visit to Perth in 2022 to discuss further trade and investment collaboration between Sarawak and Western Australia.
‘The AMBCWA Sarawak Market Research Report in 2020 highlighted complimentary industries in both Sarawak and Western Australia. Like Western Australia, Sarawak is the largest State of Malaysia, located in the northwest Borneo Island with a population of 2.9 million. Again in common with Western Australia, Sarawak has become a wealthy State with resource based industries such as oil and gas supporting economic growth’, said Keith Anthonisz.
AMBCWA hosting the Hon Datuk Amar Haji Awang Tengah bin Ali Hasan, Deputy Chief Minister of the Sarawak Government at a meeting in Perth on 24th June 2022
‘The Sarawak Market Research Report highlighted Sarawak Government support for renewable hydrogen as an industry with the development of Southeast Asia’s first Hydrogen Production Plant and Refuelling Station in 2019. The Sarawak Government owned Sarawak Energy is investing in hydropower development projects increasing clean energy access and is also investing in grid and off-grid solutions that include solar and micro hydro power for rural areas. Sarawak is supporting the agriculture sector, the State’s largest employer, supporting approximately 25% of the population. Sarawak’s palm oil industry is the state’s dominant agricultural commodity and a major contributor to global supply. Digital technology in agriculture is also being pursued to improve production and support development in regional areas.’
‘The Sarawak Government support for the emerging hydrogen industry as a clean alternative to economic reliance on the oil and gas industry again has parallels with Western Australian Government plans to support the development of the hydrogen industry and the State is represented in Sarawak through the interest of Fortescue Future Industries in hydrogen opportunities’, said Keith Anthonisz.
On 2nd May 2023, AMBCWA together with the Kuching Chinese General Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCGCCI) and Pitcher Partners, hosted a special event on the KCGCCI invite to Western Australia to participate in their 133rd Anniversary Event 7-10th July 2023 in Kuching, Sarawak, Malaysia. The KCGCCI delegation visit to Perth included Dato Tan Jit Kee, President, Datin Teo Foo Kiew, Mr Kueh Eng Mong, Vice President, Dato Chai Voon Tok, Secretary General and Rodger Chan, Chairman of the Digital Economy. Membership of KCGCCI which numbers over 1200, include international and local operating companies in a variety of industry sectors including tourism, aviation, manufacturing, property, international trade, finance, legal, IT and electronics.
‘The visit of KCGCCI senior representatives to Perth and their participation in an event with AMBCWA demonstrates the depth of interest in Sarawak to work with Western Australia for mutual economic advantage’, said Keith Anthonisz.
‘I look forward to the AMBCWA Sarawak Strategic Alliance Mission, from the 4-11 July 2023 strengthening the ties and friendship that has developed between Sarawak and Western Australia to date’, added Keith.
For more information on the event or to contact AMBCWA
