Sabah plans to set up fifth industrial park
Published on: Friday, April 05, 2019
By: Hayati Dzulkifli
Kota Kinabalu: Sabah plans to set up a fifth industrial park in the State. State Trade and Industry Assistant Minister Datuk Azhar Matussin said his ministry has been given the task to plan and initiate the move.Presently, there are four industrial parks in Sabah, namely the Sipitang Oil and Gas Industrial Park, Kota Kinabalu Industrial Park (KKIP), Palm Oil Industrial Cluster (POIC) Lahad Datu and POIC Sandakan.
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“The State Government via the Trade and Industry Ministry is aiming for a 30 per cent contribution from the industry sector to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in 10 years, from the present 7.2 per cent.
“To achieve this, a fifth industrial park has been proposed and we invited State Lands and Surveys Department Director Datuk Safar Untong to a preliminary meeting on Wednesday to discuss the proposal,” Azhar told reporters, here, Thursday.
He said the ministry also sought information from Safar on availability of suitable lands for the fifth industrial park.
Earlier, he witnessed the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between a local Bumiputera company, Synergy Heaven Sdn Bhd, represented by its Chairman Fred Gabriel, and a Hong Kong-based company, Bluemount International Limited, represented by its Chief Executive Officer Chan Lam Winson, at Hilton Hotel.
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The MoU involved providing financial and capital financing to the local-based company for ventures into development projects that will complement the State Government’s efforts in turning Sabah into an industrial State, in particular economic development in various sectors, including tourism, construction, manufacturing, agriculture, education and property.
Also present were the consultant company Manis Group of Companies Executive Chairman Dr Lam Chun Chang, to BlueMount International Limited, and BlueMount International Limited Chief Executive Director of Macau, Sherry Ho.
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Azhar said it is premature to announce the site for the fifth industrial park at this preliminary stage, including the acreage and the focus of industrialisation in the park.
“Through this new industrial park, we hope to come up with some new incentives to attract investors not only from within but also outside the country.
“The State Government is serious in developing the industry sector in Sabah. We aim to be an industrial State in 10 years…I know it is not an easy task and there will be difficult challenges to face, but we must have some target and goals, first, and, hopefully, it will create job opportunities for locals, especially youths.
“This is in line with the general election manifesto (of Warisan) to increase employment opportunities and enhance our State’s economy,” Azhar said.
He said currently, the tourism industry contributes the most to the GDP.
Meanwhile, Fred said the collaboration between the two companies would assist the new State Government in enhancing development projects that could move Sabah forward to achieve excellence that would benefit the people.Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express’s Telegram channel.
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- Projected projects
- Approved projects by the Cabinet but have yet to receive any funding provisions such as the manufacturing sector duty free industrial park, transportation, agriculture, education, tourism and telecommunications sectors, among other.
- To study and rescue abandoned and white elephant projects in Sabah.
- To invest in human capital development by venturing into technical and vocational education and training (TVET) includes formal, non-formal and informal learning that prepare Sabahans with the knowledge and skills required in the industry.
Fred said his company also aspires to be involved in private projects that have been approved by the Government such as the 6-star hotel construction, and tourism centre (health tourism), among others.
