KOTA KINABALU: State Minister of Industrial Development and Entrepreneurship, Phoong Jin Zhe, paid a courtesy visit to Her Excellency Danielle Heinecke, the recently appointed Australian High Commissioner to Malaysia, in the Federal capital.
The purpose of the visit was to further enhance collaboration between the Sabah government and the Australian government across various sectors. Phoong warmly welcomed Her Excellency Danielle Heinecke and emphasized the importance of strengthening the ties between Sabah and Australia, considering the strong cultural and educational connections that exist between the two regions.
Phoong acknowledged the numerous talented individuals from Sabah who have graduated from Australian universities, highlighting the ongoing exchanges that continue to enrich both communities. He stated, “The educational bond between Sabah and Australia has been instrumental in fostering growth and development.”
Furthermore, Phoong commended Australia’s remarkable efforts in advancing renewable energy, particularly in regions such as South Australia and Canberra, where some areas have achieved 100% renewable energy generation. This serves as an inspiration for Sabah to explore similar initiatives and contribute to the global sustainability agenda.
Sabah’s eagerness to learn from Australia’s achievements in this field was emphasized by him, as Sabah has recently gained jurisdiction over energy from the federal government.
Moreover, Phoong also discussed the possibility of collaboration in various sectors such as the food industry, biomass, mining, and green manufacturing.
He extended a warm welcome to Australian enterprises to explore investment opportunities in Sabah, highlighting the similarities between the regions’ extensive coastlines and the potential for collaboration in desalination technology.
He also expressed a strong desire to improve air connectivity between Sabah and Australia, particularly in the Perth-Kota Kinabalu route, in order to facilitate travel and strengthen people-to-people ties.
Phoong stated, “This visit represents a significant stride towards strengthening bilateral relations and fostering mutually beneficial cooperation. Her Excellency Danielle Heinecke and I have identified several areas of shared interest and potential collaboration, laying the foundation for initiatives that will benefit both parties in the future.”
Accompanying him on the visit were his political secretary Chan Loong Wei and Elton Sim, Assistant to the Honorary Consul for Australia in Kota Kinabalu.
