29-04-2025
Premier in Cardiff to boost semiconductor collab with UK
Abang Johari arrives in Cardiff, where he is greeted by Awang Tengah (right).
KUCHING (April 29): Premier of Sarawak Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg arrived in Cardiff, Wales on Monday to start his four-day working visit to the UK.
Through a post on his official Facebook page 'Sarawakku', Abang Johari and his delegation were guests of CSA Catapult Innovation Centre in Newport.
This visit meant to further strengthen collaboration between the UK semiconductor authority and Sarawak through SMD Semiconductor Sdn Bhd.
CSA Catapult is the UK's authority on compound semiconductor applications and commercialisation, and had inked an initial memorandum of understanding (MoU) with SMD Semiconductor in April last year.
'SMD is expected to exchange partnership agreement documents with CSA Catapult and two other semiconductor players in the UK as part of today's (Tuesday) programme,' read the Facebook post.
Among those on hand to receive the premier upon his arrival were Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hassan; Minister of Education, Innovation and Talent Development Dato Sri Roland Sagah Wee Inn; State Secretary Datuk Amar Mohamad Abu Bakar Marzuki; Deputy Minister of Education, Innovation and Talent Development Datuk Francis Hardin Hollis; Deputy Minister in Sarawak Premier's Department Datuk Sharifah Hasidah Sayeed Aman Ghazali; and several senior state government officers.
Meanwhile, in a press statement issued by the Premier's Office last Sunday, the Sarawak government would also present the Sarawak Semiconductor Roadmap 2030 to UK semiconductor industry players via a briefing by SMD Semiconductor chairman Dato Sri Wanlizozman Wan Omar.
There would also be a hardware demonstration and soft launch of SMD Semiconductor's new AI-powered converter prototype.
On Wednesday, Abang Johari's working visit would continue with a call on the Cambridge University Press and Assessment, a non-school institution of the University of Cambridge that offers a wide range of products and services focusing on education, learning, research and qualifying assessments.
On May 1, the premier will lead the delegation to the London School of Economics and Political Science, where there will be a roundtable discussion on sustainability and MoU exchange between the university and Sarawak government.
On May 2, Abang Johari is set to deliver the keynote address at a gathering of industry players and captains of industries to promote collaboration and investment in sustainable and renewable industries in Sarawak.
At night on May 3, he will meet Sarawakian students in the UK at a 'Lan Berambeh' gathering.
On the following day, he will fly to Toulouse, France for a working tour of the Airbus headquarters before proceeding to Abu Dhabi for a meeting with its port authority and tour of the port and also the Zayed International Airport. Abang Johari Tun Openg semiconductor industry united kingdom working visit
