SCORE AREAS

The Baram growth node has high potential to turn the region into a highland economic powerhouse that rivals Kundasang in Sabah or Cameron Highland in Pahang. IHAS is slated to be a centre for large-scale, modern and commercial agriculture. It will be a product collection centre with chilling and packaging facilities for the Long Banga, Long Beruang and Long Peluan area. The area also has great potential for oil palm plantations, forestry (using renewable plantation timber in line with today’s best practices in responsible forest management) and for the development of rainforest eco-tourism.

SCORE’s hinterland study, completed in 2014, showed the potential benefits of development activity in the corridor for areas beyond the Baram Growth Node. The impact of SCORE will be to boost economic growth in the hinterland, and efforts will be made to help improve agricultural incomes and develop the potential of the tourism industry.

The economic potential of Baram’s tourism attractions has always been recognised as one of the main components in the plans and strategies to sustainably develop this growth node. The local communities in Baram are expected to enjoy the benefits of the improved connectivity brought about by SCORE-related projects, particularly in terms of opening up more areas for tourism activities in the area. With ‘culture, adventure and nature’ as significant theme for the State’s tourism promotion efforts, through SCORE Baram is set to play a more important role in this industry in the years ahead.