LIMBANG – The Sarawak Trade and Tourism Office in Brunei Darussalam (STATOB) has stepped up its efforts to strengthen cross-border cooperation between Sarawak and Brunei, particularly in the areas of trade and tourism.
A recent engagement session was held at the Limbang Division Resident Office and chaired by Resident Unus Tambi. The meeting was attended by STATOB Chief Executive Officer Samat Junai, Sarawak Ministry of Tourism, Creative Industries and Performing Arts (MTCP) officer Nursyuhaidah Shari, as well as representatives from various government agencies in the Limbang Division.
Among the agencies involved were the Limbang District Office, Limbang District Council, Public Works Department (JKR), Department of Agriculture and the Northern Regional Corridor Development Board (NRDA).
Unus said the session served as a platform to share feedback received by STATOB and to update stakeholders on the latest developments. He noted that such initiatives are vital for strengthening socio-economic ties between Brunei and Sarawak, especially in the northern districts of Limbang and Lawas.
During the session, Samat outlined STATOB’s role as Sarawak’s official platform for promoting trade, investment and tourism in Brunei.
He highlighted the office’s contribution to strengthening bilateral economic relations, including assisting Sarawak entrepreneurs in accessing the Brunei market through exhibitions, business networking and promotional activities. STATOB also aims to attract strategic investments from Brunei into Sarawak.
Beyond promotional work, STATOB functions as a reference centre and facilitator for trade and tourism between the two regions. Samat stressed that the office remains committed to building stronger ties that bring mutual benefits to both economies.
Unus expressed hope that agencies at the division and district levels would make full use of STATOB as a channel to empower the domestic tourism industry in northern Sarawak.
He emphasised that close cooperation among all stakeholders is crucial to achieving STATOB’s mission, which is expected to spur tourism development and improve the socio-economic well-being of local communities.
The engagement session reaffirmed Sarawak’s commitment to fostering regional collaboration, positioning STATOB as a key driver of cross-border trade and tourism growth.
