Outgoing US ambassador says Sarawak is ‘on the map’ for American businesses, with growing interest in energy, manufacturing and data centres.
KUCHING: Outgoing United States Ambassador to Malaysia Edgard D. Kagan has expressed confidence that Sarawak will continue to attract greater interest and investment from American companies.
He said sustained efforts had promoted the state as a viable business destination. Kagan stated that while US firms would ultimately make their own investment decisions, Sarawak was increasingly being recognised as a location with strong potential.
“I’ve told every American company with whom I engage, who are looking at Malaysia, that they should look at Sarawak,” he said at a media engagement programme.
Kagan added that collaborative work had helped put Sarawak on the map for American businesses. He cited work with the American Chambers of Commerce, the US-ASEAN Business Council, and both the Malaysian and Sarawak state governments.
“Over time, you’re going to see greater investment by American firms here,” said the ambassador, who will be leaving the country next month.
Current US business interest in Sarawak is largely concentrated in the energy sector and manufacturing like the Western Digital plant. Kagan believed this focus would broaden as Sarawak’s economy continued to grow and diversify.
He expected a wider range of US companies would enter the market. The ambassador also highlighted Sarawak’s strong potential in renewable energy.
He noted that opportunities extended beyond power generation to include energy transmission and management. “It is noticeable that Sarawak’s energy capacity, along with its access to electricity and water, positions the state well to attract data centres,” Kagan added.
He stated that beyond infrastructure, Sarawak’s greatest asset is its people and talent. This, he believes, will continue to make the state an attractive destination for foreign investment, including from American companies.
