Highway can make Sabah a major agri exporter

Kota Kinabalu: The idea of Sabah becoming a major exporter of specific agriculture products in the region is not far from reality, given the ongoing upgrading of the Pan-Borneo Highway project.The completion and realisation of the project will create opportunities in various sectors in Sabah which will lead to real changes and tranformation of the living conditions of every Sabahan, according to BIMP-EAGA Sabah Business Council Chairman, Datuk Roselan Johar Mohamed.

Apart from proving efficient road network in the State, he said the agriculture, housing and tourism sectors, among others, stand to benefit more from Pan-Borneo Highway.

The upgrading of the 2,330km Pan-Borneo Highway connecting Sabah and Sarawak was officially launched by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Abdul Razak on April 24.

Chief Minister Datuk Seri Musa Hj Aman said the project will create spillover effects and boost other activities in the State.

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"The road project in the future will ease marketing of agriculture products, increase in tourism product promotions, boost developments in districts, increase the land value and provide job opportunities," Musa stressed.

Expressing optimism, Roselan said completion of the project will result to road accessibility from one district to another and shortening of travel time.

Opening up of farm-to-market roads, shorter travel time and reduce of trans-shipment expenses of goods, he said will encourage local traders to boost their productions and at the same time lure more people, especially the younger generation to be farmers.

"Our lands in the kampung are fertile and suitable for mass production of fruit crops like banana, corn, sugarcane, mangoes, cassava and other fruit bearing trees, and even rice," he said, adding that it's just a matter of educating and equipping our people with the right technologies and product knowledge.

With proper guidance, Roselan said it not far from reach for Sabah to be exporter of agriculture products to neighbouring countries in the future.

With the completion of the project, he said housing developers and other players in the industrial and manufacturing sectors will now be enticed to open up satellite towns and cities in remote areas.

He said the creation of satellite towns and cities will surely strengthen the spending power of the people which will be healthy for Sabah's economy and the country in general.

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"The local tourism industry will surely not be left behind simply because more tourist destinations will be established in the various districts with the accessibility of road infrastructures. It will now be easier for the players in the tourism industry to further boost their respective product promotions," he stressed.

Towards this end, Roselan assured that the Sabah Business Council of BIMP-EAGA will continue to give its undivided and unconditional support to the national government and Musa in all its endeavours to develop the state and country and level-up the standard of living of every Malaysian, especially those in Sabah and Sarawak.

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