KUCHING: Sarawak has the potential to become a crucial player in Asean's economic development, including in the food sector, says Science, Technology and Innovation Minister Chang Lih Kang.
He said the government is committed to transforming Sarawak into a net food exporter by 2030.
"With its vast land, expertise and affordable electricity, I believe that this intention can be achieved with great success," he said at the 17th Asean Food Conference here on Wednesday (Oct 25).
His speech was delivered by the ministry's secretary-general Datuk Aminuddin Hassim.
Towards this end, Chang said it was important to develop modern technologies and approaches to encourage youths to pursue careers in food production and agriculture.
He said the younger generation held a vital role in securing the future of the state's food supply chain as they were technologically savvy.
"They can harness the latest technology to benefit from smart agriculture," he said.
Chang also said the economic value of Asean's food industry is expected to reach USD1bil (RM4.78bil) by 2030, or about 10.7% of the region's GDP.
"This underscores the importance of international collaboration in the development and production of food products, ensuring food sustainability and security for our people," he said.
In this connection, Chang said the conference brought together stakeholders from the food industry to explore the future of the food and agriculture supply in Asean.
He said it was also a platform to discuss new findings in food science and technology, besides providing tools and education to support innovative solutions.
Chang said that these new findings could lead to improvements in food safety and regulatory science, food security and sustainability, Internet of Things and digitalisation, halal auditing, accreditation and technology transfer.
"I encourage everyone to take this unique opportunity to network and foster new partnerships, working collectively towards a more sustainable future in food," he added.
The four-day conference was hosted by the Malaysian Institute of Food Technology and attracted 600 participants from over 20 countries.
