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SARAWAK is accelerating plans to transform itself into a major regional trade and logistics hub by leveraging its strategic location at the centre of Asean and investing heavily in modern deep-sea port infrastructure, digitalisation and integrated maritime systems.
Premier Tan Sri Abang Johari Abang Openg said the state’s long-term ambitions extend far beyond serving its domestic population, with the government now targeting access to the wider Asean market comprising more than 700 million people.
Speaking at the 65th anniversary celebration dinner of the Kuching Port Authority, Abang Johari said Sarawak’s geographical position gave it a distinct advantage over competing regional ports.
“We are in the middle of 11 countries in Asean, so the market we are targeting is not just 2.8 million residents but 700 million Asean residents. We are capable of serving that 700 million market because other ports are located further away, whereas we are right in the middle of this region.
“So, our future lies there, because the strengths we possess will make us more competitive and subsequently allow us to emerge as one of the key players in Asean,” The Borneo Post reported him saying.
The Premier added that Sarawak’s relative proximity to China, Hong Kong and South Korea further strengthened the state’s strategic importance in regional shipping and international trade networks.
Central to the state’s expansion strategy is the proposed Tanjung Embang deep-sea port project, which will eventually replace operations currently handled at Senari Port.
Abang Johari said Senari Port may no longer be able to cope with future cargo growth driven by Sarawak’s rapidly expanding economy.
He explained that the new Tanjung Embang facility would be situated approximately 20 kilometres offshore and designed with depths ranging between 13 and 16 metres to accommodate larger international cargo vessels without navigational constraints.
“So Senari will move further out later on, where they will relocate way out at sea,” he said.
The Premier also stressed that Sarawak’s ports must embrace digitalisation, automation and seamless operational systems in order to remain competitive within increasingly technology-driven global supply chains.
He noted that modern port operations worldwide now relied heavily on integrated digital documentation systems that enabled cargo clearance processes to begin even before ships arrived at port.
Through real-time data exchange and digital transactions, he said cargo handling could be completed more efficiently, reducing operational costs and turnaround times.
“Sarawak must adapt to these changes. That is why our digital economy agenda includes seamless port management systems. We must modernise our operations to remain competitive in the global supply chain,” he said.
Abang Johari added that future port ecosystems would increasingly depend on automation and robotics, including remotely operated cranes and autonomous vehicles integrated through digital systems.
Beyond logistics and trade, the Premier also unveiled broader ambitions tied to the development of Sarawak’s deep-sea ports, including the creation of entirely new waterfront land areas through natural siltation processes.
He said reclaimed or newly formed land generated over time through sediment accumulation around offshore port developments could eventually be commercialised to offset development costs.
“When we develop areas at sea, land will be formed through the process of siltation, and that area will become new land. That land can be sold, so it can be used to recover the development costs,” he said.
Abang Johari revealed that he and Deputy Premier Douglas Uggah Embas recently visited a proposed deep-sea port location in Miri, where natural land formation had already begun to emerge nearby.
Drawing comparisons with China’s global financial hub, the Premier floated the possibility of developing a “mini Shanghai” adjacent to the future port development.
He said the newly formed coastal land areas could eventually accommodate tourism, commercial and urban infrastructure projects within the next decade or more.
“Now that we have a lot of technology, we might be able to construct buildings on that land,” he said.
The Premier also disclosed plans to establish a unified Sarawak port authority that would oversee and coordinate operations across all major ports in the state, including Kuching, Bintulu and Miri.
He said a centralised structure would improve policy consistency, operational efficiency and strategic coordination with Sarawak’s international trading partners.
“We are fortunate that Sarawak now has greater control over its port assets. We have a major port in Kuching, a strategic port in the central region at Bintulu and another in Miri,” he said. - May 16, 2026
