News From : DagangHalal.com (23 Jul 2010)
LONDON, July 23 (Bernama) — The Commonwealth Business Council (CBC) is ready to strengthen working relationship with the Sarawak state government for the Sarawak Corridor of Renewable Energy (SCORE) development, says secretary- general Gregor Mackinnon.
He said interested companies in the United Kingdom should take up this business opportunity to take the state government’s vision forward.
“We are delighted to have the opportunity to collaborate with the Tanjung Manis Halal Hub Development,” he said in his welcome address at the Sarawak Investment Symposium here.
CBC was formed in 1997 to utilise the global network of the Commonwealth more effectively for the promotion of global trade and investment for shared prosperity.
“This is a unique effort by the Sarawak state government in creating conducive business environment at SCORE in areas such as renewable energy, electronics manufacturing, timber, palm oil, shipping, tourism, oil and gas as well as halal food production.
“We are glad to note that the state government is aggressively pursuing economic growth. For further success, the government would need to complement with the private sector to generate simultaneous economic growth,” said Mackinnon.
He said private sector investment and expertise were essential components of any strategy to achieve sustainable growth in providing employment, enhancing skills, promoting entrepreneurship and significantly generating wealth.
Mackinnon also said the CBC was encouraged to see the Malaysian economy’s strong growth as the country registered a 10.1 per cent gross domestic product (GDP) growth in the first quarter of this year, he said.
Over 50 UK companies attended the symposium to explore business prospects in Sarawak particularly in SCORE and Tanjung Manis Halal Hub.
The symposium is part of the Sarawak state government’s mission to woo British investors led by Sarawak Chief Minister Tan Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud. This is the first Sarawak investment mission to the United Kingdom.
The symposium was attended by the Malaysian High Commissioner to the United Kingdom and Northern Ireland Datuk Zakaria Sulong, Deputy Foreign Minister Datuk Richard Riot, Tanjung Manis Halal Hub Development Executive Chairman Datuk Norah Tun Abd Rahman, Sarawak State Financial Secretary Datuk Seri Ahmad Tarmizi Sulaiman, State Planning Unit Director Datu Ismawi Ismuni and Regional Economic Development Authority Director Datuk Amar Wilson Baya Dandot.
— BERNAMA