KUCHING, March 23 – Sarawak will leverage existing cooperation with the West Kalimantan region (Kalbar) in Indonesia, to explore investment opportunities and development cooperation in East Kalimantan (Kaltim) – the new location for Indonesia’s capital city, Nusantara.
Sarawak Premier Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg said the collaboration involving the opening of the border for trade and flights between Sarawak and Kalbar could serve as a foundation to explore new investment opportunities following developments in Kaltim.
“We already have cooperation to assist in the development occurring in Nusantara, particularly in South Kalimantan and East Kalimantan. Sarawak Energy Berhad (SEB) has invested in power generation in Melinau, East Kalimantan, where we hold a 25 per cent stake in this hydropower development that will provide energy to Kalimantan,” he said recently.
Abang Johari said the Sarawak government was ready to participate in other cooperation in the development of Nusantara, especially with Indonesia’s proposal to further harness its hydropower potential.
Malaysian Ambassador to Indonesia, Datuk Syed Md Hasrin Tengku Hussin, reportedly said that Malaysian companies should seize investment prospects in the East Kalimantan region, especially in Samarinda and Balikpapan near the upcoming capital city of Nusantara.
