KUCHING: Bintulu has become home to Malaysia’s first Transitioning Industrial Cluster (TIC), placing Sarawak among a growing global network of industrial hubs working together to accelerate economic transformation and sustainable development.
World Economic Forum (WEF) Managing Director, Gim Huay Neo, said the launch marks an important milestone for both Sarawak and Malaysia as the state joins a network of 40 industrial clusters across 20 countries.
She said industrial clusters have become increasingly important as countries navigate global challenges ranging from geopolitical tensions and supply chain disruptions to climate change and rapid technological advancement.
“Industrial clusters provide a platform for alignment. They bring together like-minded stakeholders to collectively address infrastructure needs, talent development, financing challenges, and investment opportunities,” she said.
She said this during the launching ceremony for ‘Sarawak Transitioning Industrial Cluster (TIC): Malaysia First Cluster Under the World Economic Forum – Bintulu A Gateway to ASEAN’s Next Energy & Industrial Frontier’ at BCCK today (June 11).
Neo pointed out that innovation and transformation can no longer happen in isolation.
Instead, governments, industries, financial institutions and research organisations must work together within a shared ecosystem to identify opportunities, tackle common challenges, and turn ambitions into practical action.
She described industrial clusters as a way of building collective intelligence, allowing stakeholders to collaborate more closely, move faster, and respond more effectively to emerging opportunities.
“The TIC initiative, launched by the WEF five years ago with four partners, has since expanded to 40 industrial clusters worldwide. I am delighted that Sarawak through Bintulu will now become the first cluster in Malysia to join this growing global network,” she said.
Neo said Sarawak’s participation reflects the state’s growing role in regional industrial development and its readiness to collaborate with global partners on areas such as energy transition, infrastructure, innovation and investment.
“The success of that ecosystem depends on the ability of stakeholders to communicate openly, align around a common vision, identify shared opportunities, and build win-win partnerships as well as work together to address challenges. Most importantly, it requires translating ambition into practical implementation,” she added.
