High-level engagement between German business leaders and Sarawak policymakers reflects growing momentum for investment in renewable energy, semiconductors, and digital economy.
(From left) Sarawak Deputy Premier YB Datuk Amar Awang Tengah with German Ambassador to Malaysia Riecken-Daerr and MGCC Executive Director Hannes Farlock at the 6th German-Malaysian Business Forum (GMBF) held at The Waterfront Hotel on 6 May 2026 – photo by Roystein Emmor
Key Highlights
- InvestSarawak participated in the 6th German-Malaysian Business Forum (GMBF) in Kuching on 6 May 2026, hosted a pre-forum economic overview briefing for the German business delegation, and featured its CEO in the opening Fireside Chat.
- Key discussions with Deputy Premier YB Datuk Amar Haji Awang Tengah Ali Hasan and senior representatives covered renewable energy, semiconductors, talent development, and digital economy – reinforcing Sarawak’s position as a preferred investment destination.
- German-linked companies have invested more than RM14 billion in Sarawak since 2013, with bilateral trade reaching approximately RM1 billion in 2025, underscoring the depth of the Sarawak-Germany economic relationship.
KUCHING, 6 May 2026 – InvestSarawak participated in the 6th German-Malaysian Business Forum (GMBF) today, held at The Waterfront Hotel, Kuching, as part of the flagship forum of the Malaysian-German Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MGCC). The forum brought together senior representatives from German and Malaysian industry with senior officials from the Sarawak state government for substantive dialogue on trade, investment, and Sarawak’s economic development agenda.
The forum was graced by YB Datuk Amar Haji Awang Tengah Ali Hasan, Deputy Premier of Sarawak and Minister for International Trade, Industry and Investment (MINTRED), who addressed Sarawak’s commitment to high-quality, long-term investment partnerships. The Deputy Premier’s presence at the forum underscored the strategic importance of the Sarawak-Germany economic relationship and the state’s openness to industrial collaboration in clean energy, advanced manufacturing, and the digital economy.
“Sarawak is open for business, and we are committed to building partnerships that are long-term, sustainable, and mutually beneficial. Germany represents exactly the kind of high-quality investment partner we seek, one that brings technology, expertise, and a shared commitment to a greener future. Today’s forum has reaffirmed our confidence that the foundation for a deeper Sarawak-Germany economic relationship is firmly in place,” said YB Datuk Amar Awang Tengah.
InvestSarawak CEO Timothy Ong (second from right) at the opening Fireside Chat of the 6th German-Malaysian Business Forum, alongside German Ambassador to Malaysia Riecken-Daerr, on his right, and MGCC Executive Director Hannes Farlock, on his left.
InvestSarawak Chief Executive Officer Timothy Ong joined H.E. Silke Riecken-Daerr, Ambassador of the Federal Republic of Germany to Malaysia, and Hannes Farlock, Executive Director of MGCC, for the opening Fireside Chat, setting the tone for a forum focused on translating strategic intent into concrete economic partnership.
On 5 May 2026, InvestSarawak hosted a pre-forum economic overview briefing for the German business delegation where Mr. Ong provided a comprehensive overview of Sarawak’s investment landscape, strategic sectors, and infrastructure readiness. The briefing formed the foundation for informed and focused dialogue throughout the forum.
A roundtable with the Deputy Premier followed the Fireside Chat, enabling direct engagement between German industry leaders and Sarawak’s senior leadership on investment priorities, regulatory enablers, and sectoral opportunities – including renewable energy, talent development, high-tech manufacturing, and semiconductors.
The afternoon programme featured a dedicated dialogue with the Malaysia Digital Economy Corporation (MDEC), the Sarawak Digital Economy Corporation (SDEC), Sarawak Multimedia Authority (SMA), and Sarawak Information Systems Sdn Bhd (SAINS), highlighting the centrality of digital infrastructure and technology in Sarawak’s development roadmap.
The 6th GMBF was held in conjunction with a four-day business delegation to Sarawak, organised by MGCC, comprising 17 companies from both German and Malaysian businesses across key industrial and technology sectors. The delegation also undertook technical site visits to X-FAB Sarawak and SMD Semiconductor (Sarawak Microelectronics Design) at the Sama Jaya Free Industrial Zone in Kuching, offering first-hand exposure to Sarawak’s expanding semiconductor ecosystem.
German-linked companies have invested more than RM14 billion in Sarawak since 2013, primarily in electrical, electronic, and chemical industries. Bilateral trade between Sarawak and Germany reached approximately RM1 billion in 2025, with key commodities including semiconductors, electrical machinery, petroleum products, chemicals, and fertiliser.
“When you fly into Kuching and look out over that vast, ancient rainforest stretching to the horizon, you begin to understand the scale of what Sarawak is and what it is becoming. This is a land that powered economies for generations through its natural resources, and is now channelling that same energy into semiconductors, green hydrogen, and the industries of the future. For German companies still mapping their next move in Southeast Asia, Sarawak deserves to be on that map,” said Mr. Farlock.
InvestSarawak remains committed to facilitating high-quality investment partnerships that align with Sarawak’s Post COVID-19 Development Strategy 2030 (PCDS 2030), which targets a high-income, sustainable, and inclusive economy by 2030. The forum reinforces the agency’s ongoing efforts to position Sarawak as a competitive and investment-ready destination within ASEAN.
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InvestSarawak, an agency under the purview of the Ministry of International Trade, Industry and Investment (MINTRED) Sarawak, is the One-Stop-Centre dedicated to attracting investments to Sarawak while fostering trade and talent development, in alignment with Sarawak’s vision for 2030 and beyond — to be a dynamic society fuelled by data and innovation, bolstered by social inclusivity and sustainable growth.
Reporting to The Right Honourable Premier of Sarawak, Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri (Dr) Abang Haji Abdul Rahman Zohari bin Tun Datuk Abang Haji Openg, who chairs the Board with 13 other key members, InvestSarawak works in close collaboration with various key agencies and stakeholders throughout Sarawak, including the private sector.
InvestSarawak offers a comprehensive range of services to investors and project developers, from the initial conceptualisation of projects to the eventual successful commercialisation and implementation. For further information, please contact enquiry@investsarawak.gov.my
