Awang Tengah: Boost Bumiputera role in high-growth sectors to keep Sarawak competitive

KUCHING (April 6): Expanding Bumiputera participation in high-growth, high-value (HGHV) sectors is crucial to ensure Sarawak remains competitive amid evolving global economic trends, said Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hasan.

He said greater involvement in sectors such as hydrogen, petrochemicals, advanced manufacturing, aerospace and semiconductors would serve as key drivers of new economic growth while creating high-skilled employment opportunities.

“In addition, strengthening food security through the development of commercial agriculture is a strategic measure to ensure a stable food supply while increasing income for rural communities,” he said at the Steering Committee Meeting of the Majlis Ekonomi Bumiputera (MEB) in Putrajaya on Monday.

The meeting, which was the first for 2026, was chaired by Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.

Awang Tengah, who is also Minister for International Trade, Industry and Investment, stressed that an inclusive and sustainable development approach is essential to ensure economic benefits are shared equitably among the Bumiputera community, particularly in Sarawak.

He added that the initiatives discussed are in line with the aspirations of the Post Covid-19 Development Strategy (PCDS) 2030, which aims to position Sarawak as a developed and high-income state by 2030.

The meeting focused on strengthening the economic standing of the Bumiputera community to enhance resilience in addressing current and future economic challenges.

Various strategies were discussed to enhance Bumiputera participation in key economic sectors through a more structured, focused, and high-impact approach.

Awang Tengah Ali Hasan Bumiputera global economic development HGHV