Sharples (second left) presents the citation to Amin. Also seen are Jabu and Judith.
KUCHING: The close ties between Sarawak and New Zealand can better be enhanced through exploring further opportunities, especially in business and education.
Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Alfred Jabu Numpang said the state has long been linked to New Zealand through the hard work of pioneering leaders throughout the years.
“We should further explore ways and opportunities for more exchanges in business, education, social, cultural and others,” he said when representing Chief Minister Tan Sri Datuk Amar Adenan Satem at the New Zealand Week dinner on Friday.
He thanked New Zealand Week organisers for choosing Sarawak as a location to hold the event.
“We are glad that Sarawak has been chosen as a stepping stone before NZ Week heads over to Kuala Lumpur. It is an honour to be chosen as the first location.
“We have good hopes to develop Sarawak and its resources. We look forward to working together towards the development. We hope to encourage young people to foster and nurture the good things that we have already achieved,” he said.
Meanwhile, New Zealand’s Minister of Maori Affairs Dr Pita Sharples said it is important to remember that people relations come first in any circumstances.
“We are connected to one another since a long time ago. Malaysians, especially those from Sarawak, had been furthering their studies in New Zealand since many decades ago and still do.
“NZ Week is the best platform for us to explore opportunities to work together and invest in various sectors but as we face challenges of economy and go forward, we must remember all these things are second to people relations. People come first, business follows,” he said.
Sharples later presented citations to Honorary Consul of New Zealand in Sarawak Datuk Mohd Amin Satem and his wife Datin Judith to acknowledge their contributions to fostering closer ties between Sarawak and New Zealand.