Shipbuilding, repair engine of growth

The shipbuilding and ship repair (SBSR) industry will continue to be seen as one of the 10 major industries to be developed in Sarawak and also a major contributor to the country’s growth.

Prime Minister’s Special Envoy to East Asia, Datuk Seri Tiong King Sing, said the industry has been identified as one of the strategic industries to lead Malaysia towards becoming a developed nation by 2020.

He said a study by Malaysian Industry-Government Group of High Technology (MIGHT) showed that in 2013 alone, the SBSR industry generated RM7.1 billion in revenue.

“The study also indicated that shipyard companies generated export value of RM1 billion and created 35,000 jobs.

“For Sarawak alone, SBSR industry generated revenue of RM2.83 billion in that same year and had been able to create more business and employment opportunities for the locals,” he said when officiating at the launching of ‘Laju Laju’ landing craft owned by Versado Shipping LDA here yesterday.

Tiong, who is also Bintulu MP, said there were approximately 110 shipyards in Malaysia, out of which 70 were in Sarawak, with about 50 of them in Sibu.

“Sibu still remains as the heartland of the country’s SBSR industry with a long history of shipbuilding that can easily be traced back to nearly a century ago.

“So, it is also our hope to see the industry continue to expand and prosper, and to create more business and job opportunities for the local people,” he said.

On a similar matter, he noted that the major players in the shipbuilding industry from Sibu remained committed to their business despite facing challenges in the global market and the impact of economic downturn.

He said they had taken proactive measures to help sustain the economic growth in Sarawak, especially in Sibu, including by organising overseas trade missions, participating in regional maritime exhibitions like the Asia-Pacific Maritime Exhibition, organising dialogues with the relevant authorities, exploring new markets and visiting foreign shipyards.

By adopting some of the approaches, he added, Sibu SBSR industry players were able to continue improving their services and skills.

“However, more can be done to upgrade the industry, including collaboration with higher institutions to ensure the industry players can be updated with latest technologies and also to train more skilled workforce to fill the gap for the needs of the industry,” he said.

He later called on the industry players in Sibu as well as Sarawak to continue to remain innovative and undertake more aggressive approach to promote their products and services overseas.

Meanwhile, ‘Laju Laju’ is the first ever joint cooperation between the ship industry in Sibu and East Timor.

With its launching yesterday, the landing craft is now ready to set sail to East Timor to begin its operation, whereby it will be used for transporting civilian vehicles.

It was specially designed to fit in to the geographical features and practical needs of East Timor instead of its traditional purpose of transporting military troops, vehicles and equipment.

Present at the function were business advisor of Versado Shipping between Malaysia and East Timor, Datuk Mustapha Ahmad Marican, and director of Guangxi Yuchai Machinery Company Limited, Liao Hong.
Source: BorneoPost