KOTA KINABALU: The Ministry of Industrial Development (MID) has and will always support initiatives that are in line with its mission to accelerate industrial and entrepreneurial development in Sabah.
Deputy Chief Minister cum Industrial Development Minister Datuk Dr. Joachim Gunsalam, who gave this commitment, said Sabah is abundant with natural resources that are unique to the state which entrepreneurs can take advantage of, capitalise and develop.
“We have the skills, capability, expertise and talents to develop our own industries. What is needed are investment funds from foreign and domestic. I strongly encourage all the industry mentors and Sabah Entrepreneurs Creation (SEC) 100 participants to capture the value of these resources in order to develop our economy,” he said when officiating the 2022 edition of Sabah Entrepreneurs Creation Camp at Wisma Tun Fuad Stephens here today (July 16).
Dr. Joachim said the Department of Industrial Development and Research (DIDR), which is under his Ministry, is also playing its role in promoting Sabah industries.
“A month ago, DIDR and GM Klang Wholesale Centre (GM Klang) signed a collaboration agreement to promote products made by Sabah’s small and medium enterprises (SMEs). Among other things, the collaboration would see the allocation of three shop lots as retail and product exhibition outlets for Sabah SME products at GM Klang by as early as September this year. I was made to understand that the renovation work is being carried out right now,” he said.
Furthermore, he said the Ministry has also put in efforts to increase foreign direct investment into Sabah with two recent multibillion investments, namely SK Nexilis – a South Korean copper foil manufacturer which brought in investments valued at RM4.2bil, and SBH Kibing Solar New Materials (M) Sdn Bhd – a solar glass maker which pumped in RM2bil worth of investments into the state.
These investments will not only bring in new jobs, but will also create opportunities for businesses to capture, either through upstream or downstream productions, he said.
“I hope that SEC participants will also bring in multibillion investments into Sabah through their innovative ideas and business,” he said, while hoping to see more collaboration between GA Space and MID to help Sabahan SMEs grow and expand towards international markets.
Dr. Joachim also congratulating the founder of GA Space and Persatuan Usahawan Maju Malaysia (PUMM) State Chairman, Dato’ George Lim and DIDR for organising this event.
Also present were Director of Department Industrial Development & Research(DIDR) Tseu Kei Yue and other officers.
