KOTA KINABALU: The Malaysian International Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MICCI) has called on Yang Berhormat Datuk Dr Joachim Gunsalam, Deputy Chief Minister cum Minister of Industrial Development Sabah on April 20, 2022, during the two-day visit of the General Committee (GenCo) of MICCI to Kota Kinabalu, Sabah.
During the call, issues on trade and investment were discussed in length.
According to the President of MICCI, Madam Christina Tee, CEO at Cape Group of Companies; the essence for success in the manufacturing sector relies on firstly talents or workforce, secondly access to raw material; and subsequently infrastructure including utilities and internet.
Being export oriented – 100% of the products are exported to the USA – E&E manufacturer, she said she had visited the Kota Kinabalu Industrial Park (KKIP) years ago when she wanted to start up her 4th factory.
She said the lack of land size and infrastructure deterred her from investing in KKIP years ago. However, the proximity between Sabah and the Philippines is ideal for her business where products could be transhipped from the Philippines to the USA.
She explained the E&E sector is relying heavily on their supporting industries as she would have to move all 20 supporting industries, factory companies when a decision is made to locate another cluster of factories here in Kota Kinabalu. As such, the group would require a workforce of between 10,000 to 12,000 people and a land size of at least 150 acres of land with good supply of utilities including internet and residential-accommodation for workers.
Tee also extended her invitation to YB Datuk Dr Joachim to visit her factory in Johor in June this year.
YB Datuk Dr Joachim urged Tee to look into the possibility of considering locating another cluster of factories here.
He encouraged that the State Government is outward looking with open doors for both direct domestic investment (DDI) and foreign direct investment (FDI) with a friendly hand-hold programme.
Dr Joachim offered Tee to come forward with a wish-list so that his Ministry could look into and fulfill all possible requirements.
He said a specific task force could be formed to assist in the DDI.
Dr Joachim has also brought up the relocation of the Indonesian capital from Jakarta to Nusantara, East Kalimantan, where the State Government envisioned better connectivity within the Borneo Island making its accessibility to the population of 70 million in the BIMP-EAGA region, would provide plenty of business opportunities with extensive market for E&E products.
Also present were, Deputy Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Industrial Development, Benedick Bisoni; Immediate Past Chairman, MICCI Sabah, Datuk Seri Panglima Wong Khen Thau; President, MICCI, Christina Tee; Chairman, MICCI Sabah, Datuk Lee Swi Heng and Honorary Treasurer, Rajesh KP.
