Sarawak premier Abang Johari Openg said Serian’s GDP currently stood at RM600 million and could hit the new target by 2030.

This is in line with Sarawak’s annual growth, which is estimated at 6-8%.

“I am confident we can achieve this target by 2030 and Serian will become a mini New Zealand.

“This is my hope,” he said prior to launching the Serian Convention Centre and Serian Master Plan in conjunction with the 60th anniversary of Sarawak’s independence.

According to the Borneo Post, Abang Johari said his administration was determined to bring further development to Serian, which is rich in nature, with mountains, rivers and lakes.

He said Serian could be preserved as a tourist attraction where visitors could admire nature and the mountains, which could also serve as a site for carbon storage.

He said New Zealand, with its population of just five million and “a lot of sheep”, had developed its rural areas with good access roads. It has beautiful mountainous terrain and attractions like Lake Taupo.

For a start, Abang Johari said the Greater Kuching Coordinated Development Agency could work on this with the RM1.5 billion allocated for development.

Abang Johari said once the RM1.5 billion had been used up, his administration would inject more funds into the agency for further development.