Kuching, 6 May 2026 — The 6th German-Malaysian Business Forum (GMBF) was held at The Waterfront Hotel in Kuching, bringing together over 50 senior representatives from the German and Malaysian industries with senior officials from the Sarawak state government.
The flagship forum of the Malaysian-German Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MGCC) served as a platform for dialogue on trade, investment, and economic opportunities emerging from Sarawak’s transformation agenda. The forum opened with a Fireside Chat featuring InvestSarawak Chief Executive Officer Timothy Ong, H.E. Silke Riecken-Daerr, Ambassador of the Federal Republic of Germany to Malaysia, and Hannes Farlock, Executive Director of MGCC. Discussions focused on translating strategic intent into economic partnership.
“Sarawak is open for business, and we are committed to building partnerships that are long-term, sustainable, and mutually beneficial. Germany represents exactly the kind of high-quality investment partner we seek, one that brings technology, expertise, and a shared commitment to a greener future. Today’s forum has reaffirmed our confidence that the foundation for a deeper Sarawak-Germany economic relationship is firmly in place,” said YB Datuk Amar Haji Awang Tengah Ali Hasan, Deputy Premier of Sarawak and Minister for International Trade, Industry and Investment (MINTRED).
A roundtable session with the Deputy Premier enabled direct engagement between German industry representatives and Sarawak’s senior leadership on investment priorities, regulatory enablers, and opportunities in renewable energy, talent development, high-tech manufacturing, and semiconductors.
The afternoon programme featured a dialogue with the Malaysia Digital Economy Corporation (MDEC), the Sarawak Digital Economy Corporation (SDEC), Sarawak Multimedia Authority (SMA), and Sarawak Information Systems Sdn Bhd (SAINS), highlighting the role of digital infrastructure and technology in Sarawak’s development roadmap.
“When you fly into Kuching and look out over that vast, ancient rainforest stretching to the horizon, you begin to understand the scale of what Sarawak is and what it is becoming. This is a land that powered economies for generations through its natural resources, and is now channelling that same energy into semiconductors, green hydrogen, and the industries of the future. For German companies still mapping their next move in Southeast Asia, Sarawak deserves to be on that map, and we at MGCC are ready to help you find your place in it,” said Farlock.
The 6th GMBF was held in conjunction with a business delegation to Sarawak organised by MGCC, comprising 17 German and Malaysian companies across industrial and technology sectors from 5–8 May 2026. The programme also included technical site visits to X-FAB Sarawak and SMD Semiconductor (Sarawak Microelectronics Design) at the Sama Jaya Free Industrial Zone in Kuching, providing delegates with exposure to Sarawak’s expanding semiconductor industry.
