POIC Sabah’s Plans Impress Matrade Sabah’s New Director

KOTA KINABALU: Strategic branding and promotion can ensure the realisation of the development and economic vision of  Lahad Datu in particular,  and the east coast of Sabah as a whole.
This was the response of Mr Ravidran Manogaran, the Sabah Director of Malaysia External Trade Development Corporation (MATRADE) following a courtesy call on POIC Sabah Sdn Bhd at the latter’s office here on March 24.
POIC Sabah is a state-owned company developing the 4,400-acre industrial park known as Lahad Datu palm oil industrial cluster, or POIC Lahad Datu. Much of the proposed development activities particularly in building connectivity and economic activities with the surrounding region are centred in or around POIC.
Ravidran, who last attached with MATRADE’s  Central, West South Asia and Africa desk, was briefed on POIC Lahad Datu’s progress since its founding in 2005, and the roles it is envisaged to play in a proposed international airport, a maritime centre and a regional logistics hub for the BIMP-EAGA region.
He likened the vision for Lahad Datu to ‘a mini Dubai’ (referencing the Emirati city that grew from a desert settlement to a global hub for investment, tourism, trade and supply chain) in the making and will succeed with well-thought branding strategies.
“MATRADE encourages POIC Sabah to leverage on MATRADE’s 46 international offices in promoting its facilities and services to potential strategic partners worldwide”, said Ravidran.
Ravidran’s arrival earlier was greeted by POIC Sabah Chief Executive Officer Datuk Fredian Gan and his senior officers.
Gan told Ravidran that POIC Sabah has in the last few years been firming up cooperation with ports globally in its network building to promote cargo flow and to grow logistics activities in POIC Lahad Datu, which has a comprehensive set of port infrastructure and a deep-water harbour.
He said the new narrative now is to look at POIC Lahad Datu and the surrounding BIMP-EAGA territories in its entirety of rich resources, 78 million population and a significant part of the ASEAN economy.
“We look forward to working with MATRADE and your officers worldwide, the spread the news about the many investment opportunities we offer,” he added.