Photo caption: Jacky Chin: Sabah should not merely serve as a “bridge” in Malaysia-China cooperation, but should become a catalyst for deeper business, investment and industrial collaboration between the two sides.
KOTA KINABALU: “Sabah should not merely serve as a geographical bridge connecting Malaysia and China. It should also become a catalyst for deeper cooperation between businesses, industries and markets on both sides, turning our existing strengths into tangible opportunities and outcomes.”
Malaysia-China Chamber of Commerce (MCCC) Sabah Vice President Jacky Chin said that, under the leadership of President Datuk Dexter Lau, MCCC Sabah will continue to leverage its role as a business platform to promote more substantive economic and trade cooperation between Sabah and China, while helping local businesses explore opportunities in China and the wider international market.
Jacky said Sabah enjoys strategic geographical advantages, abundant natural resources and strong potential in sectors such as agriculture, fisheries and tourism, while also serving as a gateway to ASEAN and the wider Asia-Pacific region. China, meanwhile, has extensive expertise in technology, manufacturing, modern agriculture, the digital economy and industrial supply chains, creating significant potential for complementary cooperation.
“The key is not how many businesses participate in exchanges, but whether these engagements can translate into concrete projects, investment opportunities and long-term business relationships.”
He said future business exchanges between Malaysia and China should move beyond general visits and networking towards more targeted industry engagement, business matching and project development, with greater emphasis on turning discussions and expressions of interest into tangible outcomes.
Jacky stressed that cooperation between Sabah and China should not focus solely on how much investment can be attracted, but also on whether such investments can strengthen local supply chains, develop talent, facilitate technology transfer and stimulate related industries, thereby generating broader economic benefits for Sabah.
He said Sabah should also move beyond a passive approach to attracting Chinese investment by leveraging its strategic location to position itself as a regional gateway for Chinese businesses seeking to explore Borneo and ASEAN markets. At the same time, local businesses should proactively understand the Chinese market, identify suitable partners and expand their market reach, ensuring that Malaysia-China cooperation is mutually beneficial.
Jacky noted that Sabah-China cooperation has gradually expanded beyond traditional trade into areas such as investment, industry, the blue economy, green energy and tourism. Moving forward, both sides can build on their respective strengths to explore more concrete and mutually beneficial projects.
He stressed that the role of a chamber of commerce goes beyond “building bridges”; more importantly, it should help businesses turn connections and exchanges into tangible commercial opportunities.
“We hope Chinese businesses can use Sabah as a gateway to better understand Borneo and the ASEAN market, while Sabah businesses can leverage China’s market, technology and industrial resources to expand into broader international markets.”
Jacky said MCCC Sabah will continue to facilitate business missions, industry exchanges and business matching, with the aim of positioning Sabah not only as a platform for Malaysia-China business engagement, but also as an important hub for project development, resource integration and market expansion.
