Malaysia’s Sarawak courts Australian cooperation to boost green economy goals

Sarawak premier Abang Johari Openg told the Asean-Australian Business Forum that his state’s green economy shift will not happen on its own

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Sarawak premier Abang Johari Openg speaking at the opening of the Asean-Australia Business Forum on August 29. Photo: Sarawak Public Communication Unit & TVS

Published: 8:00am, 30 Aug 2024

Malaysia’s biggest state, Sarawak, is courting more Australian collaboration to boost its green economy, with premier Abang Johari Openg making a pitch for his state in a keynote speech at an economic summit in Sydney.

“Sarawak stands at a critical juncture where we must decouple GDP growth from unsustainable energy and resource consumption. This shift will not happen on its own,” Abang Johari said while speaking at this year’s edition of the annual Asean-Australian Business Forum on Thursday.

The premier used this year’s forum to explore new opportunities for two-way exchanges in innovation and investments in areas like aerospace and green energy transition.

Sarawak was the only Southeast Asian state government to send representatives to join the 500 or so people who attended this year’s forum, which also included Asean country heads of mission, business chamber representatives and business leaders.

Sarawak premier Abang Johari Openg and the delegation from Sarawak alongside their Australian counterparts at the Asean-Australia Business Forum. Photo: Sarawak Public Communication Unit & TVS

The East Malaysian state has made no secret of its ambitions to become the top green economy in Southeast Asia since 2021, when it launched its Post Covid-19 Development Strategy 2030. The plan aims to increase the state’s median monthly household income while simultaneously reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 45 per cent.