KUCHING, Oct 22, 2026 – Transport Minister Lee Kim Shin received a courtesy call from Michel Deelen, Ambassador of the Netherlands to Malaysia, today, during which both sides explored opportunities to strengthen cooperation in aviation, airport development, hydrogen technology and emerging transport solutions.
The courtesy call, the Ambassador's first to Lee since assuming his diplomatic appointment, was held in conjunction with his working visit to Kuching from 21 to 23 October 2026.
During the meeting, Lee highlighted the existing cooperation between Sarawak and the Netherlands, particularly the involvement of Netherlands Airport Consultants (NACO) in the proposed Development of the New Kuching International Airport (NKIA) project.
He said NACO, an established aviation consultancy firm from the Netherlands, had been appointed by the Ministry of Transport Sarawak to undertake the feasibility study for the proposed airport. The study was completed in the first quarter of 2026.
The minister also expressed interest in learning from the Netherlands' experience, particularly Amsterdam's Schiphol Airport and its surrounding aerotropolis development.
Deelen welcomed Sarawak's development initiatives and expressed the Netherlands' willingness to facilitate closer engagement, including a possible technical visit to Schiphol Airport and other relevant facilities.
The ambassador also shared the Netherlands' efforts to strengthen its engagement with Sarawak through a three-year industry cooperation programme involving companies and relevant agencies, aimed at encouraging greater business participation, technical exchanges and investment opportunities.
Both sides further exchanged views on green hydrogen technology, sustainable public transport, port development and emerging transport solutions.
Lee briefed the Ambassador on the progress of the Kuching Urban Transportation System (KUTS), which will introduce hydrogen-powered Autonomous Rapid Transit (ART) vehicles supported by hydrogen feeder buses.
He welcomed continued engagement with the Netherlands and expressed hope that the meeting would pave the way for more practical cooperation between Sarawak and companies from the Netherlands.
"We value the experience and expertise that the Netherlands can offer. We look forward to strengthening our cooperation and exploring opportunities that can bring practical benefits to both sides," he said.
Also present at the meeting were Ministry of Transport ermanent Secretary Wong Hee Sieng, Head of Aviation Transport Division Dayang Nurhayati Abang Ahmad, Head of Land Transport and Logistics Division Chong Chi Fam, and Acting Head of Policy Formulation and Project Management Division Catherine Lee Pi Ying.
Accompanying the Ambassador were Isabelle Niekrake, First Secretary of the Embassy of the Netherlands, and Andy Chia, Honorary Consul of the Netherlands in Sarawak.
ENDS
Photo Caption: Minister for Transport Sarawak, Dato Sri Lee Kim Shin (third left), presents a commemorative gift to H.E. Michel Deelen, Ambassador of the Kingdom of the Netherlands to Malaysia (third right), during his courtesy call at the Ministry of Transport.
No comments:
Post a Comment