Kota Kinabalu: Green technology is an area of industry that Sabah should tap into more seriously, said State Industrial Development and Entrepreneurship Minister Phoong Jin Zhe.
He said Sabah is currently focused on empowering the green industry sector as it is also a growing global demand.
“Green technology is environment friendly, not only it reduces pollution but also reduces carbon emission significantly,” he said after chairing an inter-agency meeting in his office.
He said other than that, green technology is a commonly high technology and this would help create high skill job opportunities in Sabah and help address the brain drain issue that is long overdue.
Phoong said Sabah is lagging behind compared with its counterparts in the peninsula and Sarawak.
“Therefore, we are including all progressive inputs we are able to garner from both State and Federal agencies while drafting this crucial policy paper that will lay the fundamentals for Sabah’s industrial development in the next decade,” he said.
“We must grab the opportunities that are created now, we should think on how to “leapfrog” forward by leaving our comfort zones to explore future industries,” he added.
Earlier, the meeting was to provide a platform to related agencies and stakeholders to provide input as the ministry is drafting a policy paper to address the challenges of industrial development in Sabah.
Phoong said the inter-agency meeting was held to coordinate all related agencies in developing Sabah’s industry sector.
“We must ensure the infrastructure and utilities are all on par while we develop our industry,” he said.
He also commended all agencies and their respective representatives for attending the meeting and looks forward to conducting more similar meetings with these agencies to plan and coordinate for Sabah’s industrial development.
The minister will also be heading to Kuala Lumpur next week to co-chair a roundtable meeting alongside Deputy Minister of International Trade and Industry, Liew Chin Tong to include the inputs provided by Federal agencies under Miti.
