Strategic role for industrial sector
Published on: Sunday, December 15, 2019
By: Larry Ralon
KOTA KINABALU: Chief Minister, Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal, said an important and strategic role must be given to the industrial sector to assist in transforming Sabah into an industrialised and developed state by 2030.
This is not only to attract investors and industrial players to Sabah to add value to existing state resources like oil, gas, timber, oil palm and fisheries, but also create a knowledge and high technology-based industry.
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“I would like to congratulate Deputy Chief Minister cum Trade and Industry Minister for starting a clear and apt target to achieve 35 per cent industrial sector contribution to the economy by 2030.
“To achieve this objective, the industrial sector need to expand by at least 17 per cent annually or receive at least RM6 billion investments in manufacturing sector annually,” he said when officiating the Sabah Entrepreneur Award 2019 (AUS2019) at Magellan Sutera, Friday. His speech was read by Deputy Chief Minister-cum-Trade and Industry Minister, Datuk Seri Wilfred Madius Tangau.
Mohd Shafie, who is also State Finance Minister, is confident that Sabah is capable of creating an interesting, conductive and encouraging investment ecosystem through all the planning made that can give confidence and earn the trust of the industry players to come and invest in Sabah.
On the effort to boost entrepreneurship at the grassroots level, he said the State Government will speed up the creation of entrepreneurs through continuous programmes like the One District One Small Industry (ODISI), Sabah Small Industry Festival (FIKS) and Sabah Small and Medium Industry Assistance (BAIKS).
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“The State Government is presently striving to up the capability and capacity of small and medium entrepreneurs (SMEs) through various programmes,” he said, adding that the private sector also need to join in and support the government’s effort to achieve a developed state status by 2030, in lined with the Shared Prosperity Vision 2030 that was recently launched by the Federal Government.
Meanwhile, Tangau said this year his Ministry has implemented various entrepreneurship programmes and activities, as well as participating in international and domestic exhibitions and expos like the FIKS in Tongod, Telupid and Matunggong, as well as the Malaysia International Halal Showcase (Mihas), Gulfood in Dubai, Foodex in Japan, Cosmo Beauty in South Korea, Thaifex in Bangkok, Malaysia Fest in Singapore, China Asean Expo in Nanning, China and the Brunei Consumer Fair.
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He said the amount of sales or booking generated from participation in the international events this year was RM89.3 million, an increase against the previous years, adding that this shows that products by State entrepreneurs are capable of competing and being successful at the international market.
He also announced that the Sabah Entrepreneurs Week 2019 (MUS2019) is also currently being held at Sabah Trade Centre in Likas here until Dec 15, showcasing over 500 products by small and medium industries from throughout Sabah.
MUS2019 is meant to provide a platform for industry players including entrepreneurs and relevant government agencies to meet, interact and build a business network, apart from used as a medium for disseminating information on government opportunities and initiatives for developing industries in Sabah as well as a platform for promoting and selling local products.
Tangau also represented the Chief Minister in launching the Sabah Entrepreneurs Information System (Sentis) which is developed by consultant on the effort by State Economic Planning Unit (Upen) with his Ministry’s collaboration.
“This system, when it is already fully completed at end of March next year, will become a complete entrepreneur information database. It is also equipped with interactive monitoring system linking all agencies under the entrepreneurship sector.
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