KUCHING: Bau is set for a major economic shake-up in two years’ time when the Immigration, Customs, Quarantine and Security (ICQS) complex in Serikin is fully operational.
The Serikin ICQS development is tipped to turn the once-sleepy border area into a bustling new business transit hub.
Deputy Minister of Transport Datuk Henry Harry Jinep believed that the Serikin ICQS would be a game changer not only for the border town but for Bau as a whole.
“The completion of the ICQS in Serikin will open up vast economic opportunities and position Bau as a strategic transit and trading centre between Sarawak and Kalimantan,” he said.
According to Henry, the new facility will significantly improve cross-border movement of people, goods and vehicles, paving the way for increased trade, logistics activities and tourism.
“With proper immigration, customs and security facilities in place, business activities can be carried out more efficiently and in a more organised manner. This will attract investors, traders and entrepreneurs to Bau and Serikin,” he added.
The ICQS complex project site handover was held on Dec 10 last year. The project is expected to be completed in two years and Henry had hoped that by 2028, the ICQS, located at the Malaysia–Indonesia boundary in Serikin, would be ready.
For years, Serikin has been best known for its popular weekend market, drawing crowds from Kuching and nearby districts.
However, the Tasik Biru assemblyman said the ICQS would transform the area from a part-time attraction into a full-fledged economic gateway operating daily.
The completion of the Serikin ICQS complex will allow Serikin to function as an official border entry point, which will stimulate continuous economic activity.
The spillover effect is expected to be felt across Bau, with increased demand for transport services, retail outlets, accommodation, food and beverage businesses and warehousing facilities.
Local farmers and small traders are also expected to benefit from easier access to cross-border markets.
Tourism is another sector set for a boost.
Henry noted that Bau’s natural and heritage attractions could now be better promoted to Indonesian visitors entering through Serikin.
“This development strengthens Bau’s position as a growth area. It will create jobs, raise incomes and improve the overall socio-economic landscape of the district,” he said.
As the border gateway comes to life, residents believe Bau’s long-awaited moment has finally arrived.
With the Serikin ICQS as the catalyst, the district is rapidly shedding its quiet image and stepping confidently into the spotlight as Sarawak’s newest business transit hotspot.
