Sarawak Metro forms strategic partnerships with Japanese firms at InnoTrans 2024

KUCHING (Oct 6): Sarawak Metro Sdn Bhd (Sarawak Metro) recently exchanged memorandums of understanding (MoUs) with Japanese companies towards collaborations in various fields.

The MoUs exchange ceremony took place at Astaka Malaysia, the Malaysian Pavilion set up by Malaysia External Trade Development Corporation (Matrade) at the recent InnoTrans 2024 in Berlin, Germany, according to a Sarawak Metro press release today.

The first MoU, exchanged between Sarawak Metro and Integrated Design & Engineering Holdings Co Ltd (ID&E), was towards collaborations on the development of Terms of Reference for consultancy services in Sarawak relating to Mobility-as-a-Service (MaaS), Demand Responsive Transit (DRT) Services, Transit Oriented Development (TOD) and other relevant expertise, including those outlined in ID&E’s published group capability platform, “The Good City”.

The second MoU, exchanged between Sarawak Metro, ID&E, and its subsidiary, Nippon Koei Group of Companies, was towards the development of a coordination and cooperation plan to collaborate and explore future modern urban transportation consultancy services globally.

Representing Sarawak Metro at MoU exchange ceremony was its chief executive officer Mazli Mustaffa, while ID&E and Nippon Koei Group of Companies were represented by ID&E’s deputy director general of Business Promotion and Regional Marketing Operations, Tsutomu Tamura and BDP Holdings Ltd’s Head of Transport and Architect director, Peter Jenkins and Nippon Koei Railway Division’s Railway Planning Department general manager Mochizuki Atsushi.

According to Mazli, the MoU exchange was yet another important milestone for Sarawak Metro, signifying a potential expansion of the company’s activities beyond Sarawak’s shores.

“We are indeed excited about the prospect of working together with our Japanese partners, collaborating on potential projects outside Sarawak, especially in assisting others with our knowledge and experience on trackless zero emission public transport systems,” he said.

He added that the opportunity to hold the MoU exchange ceremony at Berlin’s InnoTrans 2024 made it even more memorable, as it is widely considered as the world’s largest trade fair for the rail transport industry.

“To be able to get this opportunity to represent Sarawak as part of Malaysia’s delegation at this highly significant trade fair and having our MoU exchange with international organisations here in Berlin are definitely milestones for all of us at Sarawak Metro to appreciate and motivate us to reach higher goals,” said Mazli.

On hand to witness the MoU exchange ceremony were Ambassador of Malaysia to the Federal Republic of Germany, Datin Paduka Dr Adina Kamarudin, Malaysia Rail Industry Corporation (MARIC) president Datuk Dr Mohd Yusoff Sulaiman and Matrade deputy chief executive officer Mansor Shah Wahid.

Meanwhile, Sarawak Metro’s participation at InnoTrans 2024, was at the invitation of Matrade, as part of its delegation of exhibitors.

This was the first time that Matrade had held such an event for the Malaysian rail transport industry at InnoTrans, and this maiden effort was through its collaboration with MARIC, of which Sarawak Metro is a member.

InnoTrans 2024, which was held on Sept 24-27, is organised every two years at the Messe Berlin exhibition centre in Berlin.