Sarawak businesses urged to think beyond domestic market
KUCHING, 1 October 2026: Sarawak businesses are urged to think beyond the domestic market, as the State's strategic location in the region creates opportunities.
Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg said Sarawak’s strategic location, proximity to Indonesia and Brunei, and position within ASEAN provided businesses with opportunities to expand in sectors including energy, trade, tourism, logistics, technology, food production and professional services.
“If you are a Sarawak company, don't only ask: How much can I sell in Sarawak? Instead, ask: What can I sell to the region?” he made the call in his keynote address titled ‘From Vision to Reality in Sarawak’s Transformation Journey’ at the Sarawak Corporate Leadership Summit 2026 here today.
Abang Johari also noted that in the digital economy, the market is no longer limited by geography in the same way as before.
The State government, he added, had also been strengthening Sarawak’s external trade and investment presence through offices in Singapore and Brunei, with plans for Pontianak, to deepen connections with regional markets.
He said for Sarawak to participate effectively in the regional economy, it needs strong physical, digital, air and energy connectivity, which is not just about the infrastructure itself, but also about what infrastructure enables — the movement of people and goods, access to markets, investment, tourism, education and new economic activity.
“Therefore, when we consider infrastructure investment, we must look beyond its immediate cost and ask what it can generate over the next twenty or thirty years.
“What industries can develop? What communities can be connected? What opportunities can be created? This is how we should think about long-term development,” he said.
Abang Johari believed that going forward, the State has to move further downstream and capture more of the economic value relating to its natural resources.
“Rather than simply exporting raw resources, we should build industries around them, creating skilled jobs, expanding business opportunities, strengthening professional services and developing local expertise.
“Natural gas, for example, can support the growth of petrochemicals, methanol and other gas-based industries,” he said.
He added that the same principle applies across agriculture, forestry, biodiversity, carbon, data and technology, as each of these areas presents opportunities not only to utilise what is already available, but also to build new industries and capabilities around them.
“The question we should ask is: How do we create more value from what we already have? Our transformation cannot depend simply on extracting more resources.
It must be about moving further along the value chain, developing stronger local capabilities and ensuring that a greater share of the economic value created from our resources stays within Sarawak,” he said.
Abang Johari stressed that economic development and environmental protection should not be viewed as competing objectives.
“We must look at our natural environment not only as something to be protected, but also as an asset that can support new economic activities when managed carefully.
“Areas such as renewable energy, biodiversity, carbon-related initiatives, sustainable agriculture, eco-tourism and the green economy can create new opportunities while supporting our broader sustainability objectives,” he said.
This is consistent with the direction of Sarawak’s Post COVID-19 Development Strategy (PCDS) 2030, which brings together three interconnected priorities: economic prosperity, social inclusivity and environmental sustainability.
The Summit is a two-day event, organised by the Sarawak Centre of Performance Excellence (SCOPE) in collaboration with the Sarawak State Financial Secretary's Office (SFSO) and the Sarawak Transformation and Innovation Unit (STIU).
With the theme “Leading Transformation for High-Performing Organisation”, the Summit brings together Board members, chief executive officers, and senior leaders to strengthen leadership, governance and organisational capabilities in support of the state's transformation agenda.
