KUALA LUMPUR (Sept 7): Sarawak is confident of achieving developed status by 2030, underpinned by the solid foundation plan unveiled by the state government recently via the Sarawak Post Covid-19 Development Strategy 2030 (PCDS 2030), a senior state official said today.

"With a small population of 2.8 million in Sarawak and by going to innovation, we believe that this (developed status) could be achieved," said Sarawak Economic Planning Unit (EPU) director Dr Muhammad Abdullah Zaidel.

"By emphasising on digitisation and automation, we believe we could leapfrog where efficiency and productivity are the two key areas that Sarawak can grow," he said at the RHB Fireside Chat: Sarawak 2030: Turning Expectations into Reality webinar.

Muhammad Abdullah said Sarawak, which is expected to see a 3%-4% gross domestic product growth this year, needs to grow by 8% annually to double the size of the state's economy to RM282 billion in 2030.

He told the webinar that Sarawak is among the few state governments that have applied for a digital banking licence.

"We also have our own development bank, and we have our own multimedia authority.

"In fact, we are the only state that has a petrochemical plant which is not owned by Petronas. So you could see these progressive approaches introduced by our chief minister," he said.

The Sarawak state government recently roped in Kenanga Investment Bank Bhd and payment solutions specialist Revenue Group Bhd as consortium partners in its application for a digital banking licence from Bank Negara Malaysia.

In July, Sarawak Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg unveiled the PCDS 2030, which highlighted the state's strategy on six economic sectors as the main engines of growth, namely manufacturing, commercial agriculture, tourism, forestry, mining and social services.

Abang Johari also shared that by 2030, Sarawak would be a thriving society driven by data and innovation where everyone enjoys economic prosperity, social inclusivity and a sustainable environment.

The state government has committed an estimated RM63 billion to implement the PCDS 2030 under the 12th Malaysia Plan, of which RM30 billion will come from direct development expenditure with the remaining RM33 billion from alternative funding.