POIC Signs Pact To Grow In Global Logistics

KOTA KINABALU: A partnership pledge signed at the Expo Dubai 2020 on Thursday augurs well in projecting Sabah as a key hub in global logistics.
The partnership between Sabah’s state-owned POIC Sabah Sdn Bhd and World Logistics Passport (WLP), a United Arab Emirates government-backed global connectivity programme, is likely to open up markets for a wide array of resources in Sabah and the surrounding BIMP-EAGA territories.
The signing, carried out at the Malaysia Pavilion in the Expo Dubai 2020, was witnessed by Sabah Deputy Chief Minister cum Minister of Industrial Development YB Datuk Dr Joachim Gunsalam.
Ms Rose Pun, Head of Marketing and Sales of POIC Sabah, signed on behalf of the company while WLP was represented by its General Manager, Mahmood Al-Bastaki.
The UAE government officially unveiled the WLP plan at the last World Economic Forum. Since then, numerous global companies and countries have signed up for the programme which, in general, networks traders and logistics players to enhance logistical efficiency and add value.
Speaking at the signing, Al-Bastaki said Malaysia, whose Johore Port has joined WLP earlier, will be able to bolster markets across the world through the growing network of WLP.
“With our WLP hubs already in countries like India, Thailand, Vietnam, the Philippines, Singapore and Indonesia, the group’s dynamics will enable players in Malaysia to access not just markets in the Middle East, but also Latin America and Africa.”
Malaysia, and by extension Sabah, will see improved ties with Dubai, which is a global city of tourism, trade and innovation, he added.
Meanwhile, Dr Joachim said the POIC-WLP partnership is a feather in POIC’s cap as it seeks to leverage on the strategic position of the POIC Lahad Datu to turn eastern Sabah into a regional logistics hub.
“I see the partnership helping us to keep track of logistics developments globally and use it to interact directly with logistics players as we seek to attract demands for resources available in our area.”
The Minister led a group of Sabah officials that made up a Malaysian delegation to the Expo which, though slated for 2020, was launched just last October and will continue till March 2022.
Also in attendance was the assistant minister of industrial development sabah, YB Tamin Zainal and Mr Robert Stidi, deputy director of State’s Economic Planning Unit who is also the Head Secretariat of Sabah Expo.