KUCHING: Sabah and Sarawak are stepping up efforts to formalise strategic cooperation to accelerate development across Borneo, focusing on key sectors including infrastructure, utilities, ports, logistics and industrial growth.
Sabah Deputy Chief Minister II, who is also Sabah Minister of Industrial Development, Entrepreneurship and Transport, Datuk Ewon Benedick, said the cooperation will begin with coordination at the senior officer level in both state ministries as an initial step to strengthen the implementation of various joint initiatives.
He also said the close relationship between Sabah and Sarawak is very important because both states complement each other in terms of resources, infrastructure facilities, and economic development potential that can benefit the entire Borneo region.
“Sabah needs Sarawak, and Sarawak also needs Sabah to ensure that the Borneo region develops better through stronger cooperation.
“We have agreed to formalise this cooperation, starting at the level of senior officers in the ministries of Sabah and Sarawak,” he said.
He said this to reporters after a courtesy visit to Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hasan at Wisma Sumber Alam here today.
Ewon said discussions also focused on efforts to strengthen cooperation in the industrial sector, as both states have an interdependent relationship in the supply chain and industrial development.
He also mentioned that logistics coordination and cross-border movement of goods were also highlighted, including the potential use of Sepanggar Port as a strategic route for transporting construction materials to northern Sarawak.
