KUCHING: The State Government will continue to provide the necessary enablers including basic infrastructure to encourage private sector investment in smaller towns and rural areas.

Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Adenan Satem said the govermnent would make sure frontline agencies at the Divisional and District levels help to facilitate more private sector investment.

“Private sector is very much encouraged to expand their businesses to smaller towns and rural areas to spread economic development throughout the State.

“In cognizance of the vast economic potentials that can be tapped by the private sector in the smaller towns, the government will continue to provide the necessary enablers including basic infrastructure such as roads, water and electricity to ensure the viability of their investments,” he said in his winding-up speech at the DUN sitting yesterday.

The state government would do it best to encourage the private sector to invest and expand their businesses in all sectors of the State’s economy and engage with the private sector to understand their needs, he said.

He added that focus is on the development of small and medium enterprises (SMEs).

Being the backbone of the State’s economy, the future development of SMEs is important for the State.

“They are not only the providers of supporting services to bigger companies but create many job opportunities for the ‘rakyat’.

“The government will support the development of SMEs so that they can grow their businesses. For the bigger companies, we would like to see them compete internationally to capture bigger markets for their products.” he said.

On Chinese education, he reiterated that all education system must be in line with the National Education Policy of providing education to all people who would be able to contribute to the welfare, integration, harmony and development of the country.

“Therefore, I have announced an initial allocation of RM3 million for Chinese education to support them to further develop Chinese schools and to work closely with the Federal Government to meet the objectives of the National Education Policy,” he said.