KUCHING: The newly-established Greater Kuching Coordinated Development Agency (GKCDA) wants improvement and upgrading made on Immigration, Customs, Quarantine, and Security (ICQS) complexes in areas covered by the agency.

Its chief executive officer Datu Ik Pahon Joyik said better facilities at these ICQS will greatly benefit the state in facilitating growth in tourism and bilateral trade.

He pointed out the present ICQS in Tebedu, Biawak, and Serikin are not up to par compared to the ones in neighbouring West Kalimantan, Indonesia.

“For GKCDA, improving and upgrading of the three ICQS complexes will be among the top agenda because the demand is there from Indonesia, which has a high population, to benefit the people and the state,” he said to reporters when met during the GKCDA mini-lab at the Serian administrative complex yesterday.

According to Ik Pahon, improving the ICQS complexes will also provide business opportunities for the locals by enhancing bilateral trade with Indonesia.

The GKCDA covers Bidayuhmajority areas from Lundu to Tebedu districts, comprising the state constituencies of Tanjong Datu, Opar, Tasik Biru, Serembu, Mambong, Tarat, Bukit Semuja, Kedup andTebedu.

On a related matter, Ik Pahon said assemblymen in these constituencies are key to empowering the implementation of the GKCDA.

He explained they being men on the ground, they have knowledge and are able to study the challenges and potentials available in their respective constituencies.

“Despite receiving Rural Transformation Programme (RTP) and Minor Rural Project (MRP) funding, there may be huge projects with high impact that are difficult to execute. So, such projects can be implemented under the GKCDA.

“The cooperation of GKCDA with the assemblymen involved is very important to ensure GKCDA achieves the objectives that have been targeted by the government,” he said.

On the mini-lab, Ik Pahon said it was to gather and compile information on the projects being implemented and those being approved to prevent duplications.