Score - Utusan

big benefits for sarawak with score sibu: sarawak can reap tremendous benefits when its regional development corridor, the sarawak corridor of renewable energy (score), is successfully implemented by 2030. state second finance minister datuk sri wong soon koh said the state's gross domestic product (gdp) was projected to increase fivefold to rm118bil in 2030 from rm23bil in 2006. speaking to newsmen before launching a seven-day exhibition on score at the sibu gateway here on monday, he noted that the state's per capita income was projected to increase to rm84,077 from rm23,193 during the same period. score, one of five regional development corridors launched throughout malaysia, is a major initiative to transform sarawak into a developed state by 2020. encompassing 70,709 sq km and with a population of 607,800, score stretches for 320km along the coast from similajau in bintulu to tanjung manis in mukah and extends into the surrounding areas and hinterland. “the number of jobs will increase by 1.6 million from 900,000 in 2006 to 2.5 million in 2030. “for these reasons, every sarawakian should be informed about score and the jobs and business opportunities it will generate. they should be prepared to exploit the opportunities,” said wong. he pointed out that foreigners would be attracted to invest because of score’s renewable energy base and concept. the core of score is the energy resources, particularly hydropower (28,000 mw), coal (1.46 billion tonnes) and natural gas (40.9 trillion sq cu ft), within sarawak's central region. pointing to the 10 industries identified as priority sectors in score, wong said they would have the greatest economic impact on the state. the industries are oil-based, aluminium, steel, glass, tourism, palm oil, timber-based, livestock, aquaculture, shipbuilding and ship repair. apart from economic growth, wong said the people would witness rapid development in the provision of infrastructure, utilities and social amenities in the score area. “i am confident the living standard of the people, including those in the hinterland and rural areas, will be greatly uplifted,” he added. – bernama