KUCHING: Sarawak is enhancing regional connectivity across Borneo and ASEAN through the operation of AirBorneo.
Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg said the development of Tanjung Embang Airport, together with existing airports in the state, supports the growth of an integrated aerospace ecosystem encompassing smart digital airports, flight operations, advanced manufacturing and Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) capabilities.
He said airlines and airports are not endpoints but platforms for broader aerospace industry growth while stressing that aviation as the front-facing component of the aerospace economy.
“With MRO being one of the most credible entry points into the aerospace value chain, it creates high-skilled jobs, enforces safety cultures, anchors technical expertise and attracts supporting industries. Sarawak positions MRO alongside avionics, advanced materials, digital maintenance systems, and data-driven safety and asset management.
“This creates a realistic and investable aerospace industry base,” he said when launching the Asia Pacific Aerospace Conference and Exhibition (APACE) 2026 at Borneo Convention Centre Kuching on Tuesday (Jan 27).
Stating how Sarawak’s aerospace talent pipeline is envisioned as a seamless and continuous journey, Abang Johari said it begins with technical and vocational education and training (TVET), is elevated through advanced engineering and systems capability, deepened with research and innovation, and ultimately empowered through commercialisation.
“Through this journey, ideas are transformed into industries, talent into capability, and Sarawakian expertise into a force that helps shape the future of aerospace for the region and beyond. This approach ensures that aerospace education creates real economic value, not merely academic output,” he said.
