NEWS & UPDATE

OSAKA
31 MAY 2025

Sarawak Energy and the Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC) formalised a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) today to collaborate on renewable energy development, enhancement of cross-border energy infrastructure and technical knowledge exchange. The partnership reinforces ongoing effort to support Southeast Asia’s energy transition while advancing regional interconnectivity and sustainability efforts.

The signing ceremony took place during the official opening of the Malaysian Pavilion at Expo 2025 Osaka, which was officiated by Malaysia’s Deputy Prime Minister, The Right Honourable Dato’ Sri Haji Fadillah Haji Yusof, who also serves as the Minister of Energy Transition and Water Transformation (PETRA).

Sarawak Energy’s Group Chief Executive Officer, Datuk Haji Sharbini Suhaili, signed the MoU alongside JBIC’s Managing Executive Director, Sekine Hiroki. The signing was witnessed by The Right Honourable Dato' Sri Haji Fadillah; The Honourable Datuk Amar Haji Awang Tengah Ali Hasan, Deputy Premier of Sarawak, Second Minister for Natural Resources and Urban Development and Minister for International Trade, Industry and Investment Sarawak; as well as The Honourable Liew Chin Tong, Deputy Minister for Investment, Trade and Industry Malaysia.

The MoU establishes a framework for strategic collaboration between Sarawak Energy and JBIC to advance renewable energy initiatives and enhance regional interconnectivity. Aligned with the ASEAN Power Grid initiative and the Asia Zero Emission Community (AZEC), the partnership contributes meaningfully to long-term sustainability and strengthens regional cooperation.

Both organisations will engage in ongoing dialogue and explore joint opportunities that support Sarawak Energy’s long-term growth strategy and Southeast Asia’s broader decarbonisation efforts.

The MoU builds on continued engagements following the bilateral summit between Malaysia’s Prime Minister, The Right Honourable Dato’ Seri Anwar Ibrahim; and Japan’s Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba, in January 2025 in Putrajaya. The summit addressed key areas including trade, investment, energy cooperation, education and regional security, culminating in the elevations of Malaysia-Japan relations to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.

The summit had further set the stage for agreements such as the Sarawak Energy-JBIC MoU, translating high-level commitments into tangible collaboration focused on power infrastructure, energy investment and regional integration.

The MoU signing was coordinated with the support of the federal Ministry of Investment, Trade and Industry; and the Sarawak Government, through the Ministry of International Trade, Industry and Investment Sarawak.

Sarawak Energy’s Group Chief Executive Officer, Datuk Haji Sharbini Suhaili, signed the MoU alongside JBIC’s Managing Executive Director, Sekine Hiroki - witnessed by The Right Honourable Dato' Sri Haji Fadillah; The Honourable Datuk Amar Haji Awang Tengah Ali Hasan, Deputy Premier of Sarawak; as well as The Honourable Liew Chin Tong, Deputy Minister for Investment, Trade and Industry Malaysia.

The formalisation of the MoU marks a collaboration on renewable energy development, enhancement of cross-border energy infrastructure and technical knowledge exchange.

Official opening of the Malaysian Pavilion at Expo 2025 Osaka, officiated by Malaysia’s Deputy Prime Minister, The Right Honourable Dato’ Sri Haji Fadillah.