KUCHING, Jan 21 (Bernama) -- Sarawak will set up a data bank on the Sarawak Corridor of Renewable Energy (SCORE) soon to provide information and business opportunities for small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and investors.

Sarawak Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI) president Datuk Abang Abdul Karim Tun Openg said the setting up of data bank, proposed by Deputy Chief Minister Tan Sri Dr George Chan, would enable a more updated and complete data of Score.

He said the state's Industrial Development Ministry and SCCI were working together on the data bank, with the assistance and expertise from Sarawak Information System Sdn Bhd (SAINS).

"With the data bank, SCCI members, especially SMEs, will know better what is available in SCORE. We will able to help SMEs to explore business opportunities in SCORE," Abdul Karim said at a press conference after the opening of seminar on "Optimising Opportunities Under Malaysia's Free Trade Agreements" by Malaysia External Trade Development Corp (Matrade) deputy chief executive officer (development), Mohamad Kamarudin Hassan, here Thursday.

"For the investors, the data bank would enable them to look for products and services provide by SMEs. We can get them (SMEs and investors) together," he told reporters.

Abdul Karim also urged SMEs to explore the Brunei-Indonesia-Malaysia-Philippines East Asean Growth Area (BIMP-EAGA) and take full advantage in tapping the market.

"We should further develop the relations among the BIMP-EAGA members countries and take advantage of it," he said.

Abdul Karim hoped that Matrade and SCCI could work together to explore business opportunities in Sarawak.

SCORE is one of the five regional development corridors being developed throughout the country.

Located within Sarawak's Central Region, it stretches for 320 kilometres along the coast from Tanjung Manis to Similajau and extends into the surrounding areas and the hinterland.

-- BERNAMA