Customs Prepare For POIC Lahad Datu port as Logistics hub for the region

LAHAD DATU: The setting up of a full-fledge Customs office at the POIC Port here has cemented its status as a Legal Landing Place and will facilitate its growth and development.
 
“This is a significant development as we look towards playing our role in turning Sabah’s east coast, particularly Lahad Datu, into the regional logistics hub and a gateway to the BIMP-EAGA,” said Datuk Fredian Gan, the Chief Executive Officer of POIC Sabah Sdn Bhd which owns and operates POIC Lahad Datu Port.
 
He was speaking at a ceremony today at POIC’s Container Terminal near here where he handed over an office to be used as the operations base of the Royal Malaysian Customs Department. The permanent office will oversee customs matters at all terminals at POIC Lahad Datu. Besides the container terminal, the port also operates a dedicated terminal for dry bulk and liquid cargo, as well as a barge landing.
 
Legal Landing Place is a declaration of a status required of all ports. It was granted by the Customs.
 
Datuk Mohd Yunus Charlie Charington, the Deputy Director-General (Management) who led a delegation of Senior Officers, received the key to the office from Datuk Gan.
Also present were the Board of Directors of POIC Sabah Sdn Bhd, and Senior Managers of the company.
 
Datuk Gan stressed that connectivity is crucial in realising the full economic potential of eastern Sabah, which lies strategically within resource-rich BIMP-EAGA and the untapped opportunities of the 13-nation Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) which came into effect just this month. RCEP, which counts as members China Australia, New Zealand, South Korea and Japan and the ASEAN nations, represents a massive economic and population bloc of the world.
 
“Sea ports are vital in the whole scheme of logistics and POIC is keen to play a part in bringing out the potentials of the logistics industry in Malaysia which is even bigger than oil palm in terms of contribution to the national GDP.”
 
He also alluded to the fact that POIC Port has combined infrastructure worth over RM1 billion built to drive growth in Sabah and capturing the logistics potentials of the region.