STATOS TURNS SIX

Celebrating growing friendship between Sarawak and Singapore

The month of June sees STATOS celebrating six inspiring years of connecting people, ideas, and opportunities between Sarawak and Singapore since its establishment.

SINGAPORE, 30 June 2025 – What started with just three dedicated staff and a big dream has become one of Sarawak’s most successful overseas ventures. This month, Sarawak Trade and Tourism Office Singapore (STATOS) celebrates its 6th anniversary, and with it six inspiring years of connecting people, ideas, and opportunities between Sarawak and Singapore.

Launched on June 20, 2019 by the Premier of Sarawak, Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri (Dr) Abang Haji Abdul Rahman Zohari bin Tun Datuk Abang Haji Openg, STATOS has grown into a 10-member team that is passionate about all things Sarawak – trade, tourism, investment, culture, and of course, food.

“Since the establishment of STATOS, we’ve seen a significant increase in the promotion of Sarawak as a travel destination in Singapore. This is a welcome development, as it offers Singaporeans a fresh and exciting alternative for their holidays,” said Director of EU Holidays Pte Ltd, Wong Yew Hoong.

“Many travellers are still unfamiliar with Sarawak, and through collaborations with EU Holidays and STATOS, we’ve observed a growing interest and increasing tourist arrivals. This initiative is clearly opening new doors for both the industry and travellers,” added Wong.

Tourism may be the most visible success, with visitor numbers from Singapore increasing by 29% since 2019, but STATOS’s reach goes beyond travel. Through social media campaigns, business matchmaking, corporate outreach and market research, STATOS has helped Sarawak brands step confidently onto the international stage.

“STATOS has opened doors to regional exposure and export opportunities for our women-led social enterprise. It’s been a catalyst in turning our Sarawak-inspired plant-based heritage into global conversations,” shared Co-Founder and Executive Director of Supreme Indah Sdn Bhd (#IndahHouseKuching), Trudy Tan.

Director of East Asia Palm Products Sdn Bhd, Andrew Nguang and Co-Founder of Alpha-B Holdings Pte Ltd, Eric Kon echo that sentiment.

“We are proud to be associated with STATOS, to enable an effective platform to showcase our Sarawak’s innovative produces,” said Andrew, while Eric shared, “With the strong support of the Sarawak Government, STATOS has done an incredible job over the past few years in raising awareness about Sarawak. Singaporeans and members of the international community are now discovering and appreciating what Sarawak has to offer. I’m proud to see Sarawak being represented so vibrantly, and even prouder to be part of this journey as a Sarawakian.”

One of STATOS’s proudest moments came from its early role in what would become the Project H2ornbill hydrogen initiative. In 2019, the STATOS team visited Sumitomo Corporation’s Singapore office. Thus began the first link that eventually grew into a groundbreaking partnership.

“We are proud to be part of the early chapters of many such initiatives,” said STATOS’s CEO, Chew Chang Guan, adding: “As the window to Sarawak, STATOS remains committed to opening doors, building bridges, and supporting meaningful partnerships for the state's trade, investment, and sustainability agenda. We’ve come to understand what truly connects with Singaporeans – and the answer is simple: great food, authentic experiences, and meaningful engagements. Sarawak has all the high-growth potential, and STATOS is ready to deliver more.”

Behind the success of STATOS stands a dedicated Board of Directors, chaired by Tan Sri Datuk Amar Mohamad Morshidi Abdul Ghani. He said, “STATOS plays a key role in facilitating and promoting Sarawak’s interests by identifying high-value leads, driving strategic collaborations, and securing actionable opportunities in investment, trade, and tourism. Our objective is to bring back implementable outcomes for the relevant Sarawak agencies to follow through and potentially close the deals.”

Meanwhile, STATOS is gearing up for the Sarawak Mega Fair 2025 in Singapore. Organised in collaboration with the Premier’s Office and the Ministry of International Trade, Industry and Investment Sarawak (MINTRED), the fair will showcase everything Sarawak has to offer, from trade and tourism to tech, culture, and sustainability.

The team at STATOS is indeed thankful for the support it’s received from partners, stakeholders, and the Sarawak Government throughout the past six years. It’s been a meaningful journey built on trust and collaboration, and while a lot has been achieved, the work isn’t done as the team is ready to keep growing and doing even more in the years ahead.