Opening of "Sarawak Pavillion" at this year's World Travel Market (WTM) 2025 in London, UK

Once again, our  Sarawak Pavilion is expected to capture the attention of international visitors at this year’s “World Travel Market 2025 (WTM)” held at the ExCeL London Exhibition & Convention Centre, United Kingdom (UK) from 4 to 6 November. I was given the honour to grace the opening ceremony of the unique pavilion which also featured two of our major international initiatives, namely the “Gateway to a Sarawak – Guinness World Record” campaign and the “UNESCO Borneo Site Package”.

Through the “Gateway to a Sarawak – Guinness World Record” campaign, we are actively working to create a world record to attract global attention while celebrating the heritage and diverse attractions of the Land of the Hornbills. Through the “UNESCO Borneo Site Package” campaign, we are actively collaborating with our neighboring state through Sabah Tourism Board, which features natural and cultural treasures including Gunung Mulu National Park in Miri, Niah National Park and Sarawak Delta Geopark. 

A word of gratitude to all strategic partners who have also contributed to success of our Sarawak Pavilion which was also geared towards celebrating the forthcoming “Visit Malaysia Year 2026” (VMY2026) where together we can play a major role in shaping a notable international tourism narrative.

Sarawak to host the “International Council on Archives (ICA) Conference 2027”

It is truly an honour for us in Sarawak to host the “International Council on Archives (ICA) Conference” for the first time in 2027. Our appreciation to the International Council on Archives (ICA) for giving us  the hosting rights on behalf of the state during their recent “ICA Congress 2025” closing ceremony that was held in Barcelona, Spain. This will also be the second time for Malaysia to host an ICA event and the first time for Sarawak. 

Through the hosting of “ICA 2027” conference, Sarawak is set to showcase our commitment towards heritage preservation, cultural diversity, and digital transformation. The ICA Conference 2027 will be held at Borneo Convention Centre Kuching (BCCK) on November 1 to 5, with over 1,000 delegates from around the world, including government agencies, archival institutions, associations, policymakers, and academic leaders are expected to participate.

The prestigious international event will be co-organised by the Sarawak State Library, the National Archives of Malaysia, and the ICA. I was given the honour to receive the flag in a symbolic handover ceremony and it is an honour for us to contribute towards ICA’s mission is about carrying legacies forward. We hope the forthcoming conference will open new opportunities to develop more national and local collaborations on archives, so that the legacies we preserve today continue to inspire generations to come.

Through BE Sararawak efforts last year, Malaysia had succeeded in its bid to host the conference in Kuching backed by a strong multi-agency collaboration led by the Sarawak State Library and the National Archives of Malaysia, with the firm backing of both federal and Sarawak government agencies and universities.

Those contributing to the success were the Premier of Sarawak’s Office; Ministry of National Unity; Ministry of Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts; BE Sarawak: Sarawak Tourism Board; Malaysia Convention and Exhibition Bureau; Universiti Teknologi Mara Sarawak; Universiti Malaysia Sarawak; University of Technology Sarawak; and Sabah State Archives.

Kuching City buzzing with the Kuching Waterfront Festival 2025 featuring 11th International Dragon Boat Race, Sarawak Regatta and Borneo Craft Festival 2025.

The weather was just fine for the launching of the much awaited 11th Sarawak International Dragon Boat Regatta 2025 which is on from October 24 to 26 at our iconic Kuching Waterfront. We had the honour of having the right honourable Premier Sarawak, Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Abang Haji Openg who graced the launching ceremony this afternoon. His arrival at the launching venue was greeted by the thunderous applause by 2,143 members of the 62 teams from 21 countries who are competing in this year’s event. The international dragon boat race is part of the larger annual Kuching Waterfront Festival and the popular Sarawak Regatta where thousands of our local folks as well as foreign tourists will throng the Kuching Waterfront. 

New participating nations in this year international dragon boat race include England, Ireland, Canada, Abu Dhabi, Egypt, Kazakhstan, Macao, and Mongolia with the rowers joining returning teams from the USA, Spain, Japan, Iran, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Thailand, Indonesia, Cyprus, Hong Kong, China, Singapore, the Philippines, Brunei, and Malaysia (Sarawak, Sabah, Penang, and Kuala Lumpur). The total prize purse of RM100,000 along with winners’ trophies and medals.

The Sarawak Regatta which is on from October 31 to November 2 will be graced by His Excellency the Sultan of Pahang and members of the Royal Family, who will witness the traditional races, while the Sultanah of Pahang is expected to visit the Borneo Craft Festival 2025 to view Sarawak’s world famed traditional “Keringkam” crafts. Our Head of State, His Excellency Tun Pehin Sri Dr Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar and wife are also attending the Sarawak Regatta together with the visiting royal guests. 

In conjunction with the Kuching Waterfront festivities, the Borneo Craft Festival (FKB) Sarawak 2025 is also on from October 24 to November 2 and organised by the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture (MOTAC) through Kraftangan Malaysia. This year’s festival theme is “This Is Malaysian Craft” and it features 111 craft entrepreneurs from Sarawak and Sabah, showcasing the tapestry of Malaysia’s rich artisanal heritage.

IDECS2025 had attracted 10,000 participants from throughout Malaysia and overseas

The eighth edition of the International Digital Economy Conference Sarawak (IDECS) which is on from 22 to 23 October at Borneo Convention Centre Kuching (BCCK) had attracted 10,000 participants from throughout Malaysia and from overseas including the United States, Japan, Taiwan, Philippines, China and Australia. 

I was delighted to be invited to the official opening ceremony held this morning and it was graced by our right honourable Premier of Sarawak, Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Abang Haji Openg. The theme for this year’s conference is “AI and Green Evolution: Growth, Challenges and Community Resilience” with the keynote lineup speakers includes James Barrat, author of ‘Our Final Invention: Artificial Intelligence and the End of the Human Era’, who will open with ‘The Intelligence Explosion: When AI Beats Humans at Everything’ keynote address. Dr Ayesha Khanna, a globally recognised AI expert and CEO of Addo, also presented an interesting topic on “Resilient by Design: Shaping Inclusive Futures in an AI-Driven World”. 

On top of that, a “Leaders’ Masterclass” on “The Augmented Team: The Missing Link in Leadership Development” is included and featuring human transformation expert, global speaker and author, Dr Justin Cohen. IDECS2025 is hosted by Sarawak Government and is jointly organised by the Sarawak Digital Economy Corporation (SDEC), Sarawak Multimedia Authority (SMA) and Sarawak Information Systems (SAINS) with Malaysian Bioeconomy Development Corporation Sdn Bhd (Bioeconomy Corporation) as strategic partner.

All eyes on the official launching of Sarawak's economy masterplan in 13th Malaysian Plan (13MP)

We were delighted with the official launching of Sarawak’s economy in the forthcoming 13th Malaysia Plan (13MP) which was graced by our right honourable Premier of Sarawak, Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Abang Haji Openg at Sheraton Hotel Kuching. The launching ceremony was attended by members of Sarawak State Cabinet together with heads from various agencies, departments and statutory bodies. In his speech, our esteemed premier had mentioned that Sarawak is poised in accelerating its civil service delivery while boosting transformation efforts and empowering private-sector participation as together we are heading towards realising our Post Covid-19 Development Strategy (PCDS) 2030.

As highlighted by the premier, Sarawak’s has solid foundation and is on the right track. Moreover, Sarawak’s goal is clear which to ensure every initiative under PCDS 2030 would deliver tangible outcomes that include improving lives, creating quality jobs, and expanding opportunities for all our local folks. In moving forward, Sarawak will leverage on its vast natural, capital assets and comparative advantages, combined with the latest technologies and ever ready skilled manpower, to drive more high-value downstream industries, expand green investments and create inclusive opportunities. This will ensure that none of our fellow Sarawakians is left behind in the fast moving journey towards equal prosperity.

As Sarawak’s state Finance and New Economy Minister, our premier also said that through strategic efforts, Sarawak is poised and plans to double the size of its economy from RM148.2 billion registered in 2024, to RM282 billion by 2030, with the potential median monthly household income targeted at RM15,000. This promising prospects also reflects our collective determination of uplifting the living standards of all Sarawakians whereby a stronger and more dynamic private sector will also be central to the projected growth. 

We strongly supports our premier’s pledge for Sarawak to remain fully committed in embedding environmental sustainability across all initiatives, with the long-term goal of achieving net zero emissions by 2050. Such commitment will ensure that Sarawak’s growth under the 13MP would remain inclusive, resilient, and forward-looking. On the same note, our government have structured 15 key socio-economic sectors and enablers which will deliver strategic thrusts into tangible outcomes in line with the 13MP’s outlines for Sarawak. 

These sectors and enablers include energy transition; development of manufacturing and small-medium enterprises (SMEs); commercial agriculture; tourism, arts, culture and creative industries; forestry, natural assets (capital) management, and conservation; mining and oil and gas; infrastructure and utilities; transport and logistics; business services; digital transformation; innovation; education and human capital; social services; government transformation; and waste and circularity. According to our premier, ehese sectors reflect our evolving economic landscape and the focus on innovation-led, diversified and inclusive growth; and provide the framework through which Sarawak will deliver on its ambitious targets.