Sarawak Deputy Premier Awang Tengah Proposes Joint Border Development with Brunei

Sarawak Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hasan, who also serves as Minister for International Trade, Industry and Investment, announced a joint border development plan with Brunei. He said the northern Sarawak districts of Miri, Limbang and Lawas could become a regional economic growth corridor by combining Sarawak’s abundant natural resources, land and renewable‑energy capacity with Brunei’s strengths in halal certification, technology, food processing and access to international markets.

Awang Tengah highlighted the role of micro, small and medium enterprises, urging digitalisation, innovation and quality upgrades. He called for deeper cooperation in tourism, noting that Brunei’s logistics infrastructure could support AirBorneo’s air‑connectivity and a potential codeshare with Royal Brunei Airlines. The proposal also targets downstream oil‑and‑gas processing, the digital economy, renewable energy, high‑technology manufacturing, semiconductors, aerospace and modern food production, aiming to boost trade, create quality jobs and enhance food security.