Kota Kinabalu: Sabah–China Chamber of Commerce (SCCC) recently promoted Sabah as a prime destination for business and investment in a recent “Maritime Silk Road” Overseas Chinese Business Investment and Trade Conference held in Quanzhou, China on April 1 – 3, 2025.
Its President Datuk Frankie Liew said SCCC represented Sabah at the 2nd “Maritime Silk Road” Overseas Chinese Business Investment and Trade Conference, held in conjunction with the Quanzhou High-Quality Domestic and Foreign Trade Development Conference.
The event brought together city leaders from Quanzhou, along with prominent business figures from China and across the globe, to explore avenues for mutual growth and cooperation between overseas Chinese entrepreneurs, Quanzhou’s business community, and the city itself.
“Through our participation in this conference, we hope to deepen ties and foster greater mutual understanding with Quanzhou’s business leaders and overseas Chinese entrepreneurs, while actively exploring opportunities for shared growth.
“Sabah businesses could enhance communication and friendship with Chinese and overseas Quanzhou entrepreneurs and overseas Chinese merchants, and jointly pursue development,” said Frankie in his speech at the conference’s welcoming dinner.
He added that the event offered Sabah a valuable window into Quanzhou’s dynamic business landscape, while also allowing Sabah to showcase its own industrial strengths, strategic investment prospects, and pro-business environment.
“We aim to inspire more overseas Chinese investors to view Sabah as a prime destination for business and investment,” he said.
“By participating in this conference, we aim to enhance friendship and understanding with Quanzhou entrepreneurs and overseas Chinese merchants, while jointly seeking opportunities for development,” he said.
He further noted that Sabah’s participation provided valuable insights into Quanzhou’s business landscape, and presented a unique opportunity to share information on Sabah’s own industrial strengths, investment potential, and business-friendly environment.
“We hope to encourage more overseas Chinese investors to consider Sabah as a destination for their ventures,” Liew added.
He also expressed his aspirations to align Sabah’s resources with global networks linked to Quanzhou and overseas Chinese entrepreneurs, promoting high-quality trade between the two regions and introducing top products and services from both Sabah and Quanzhou to international markets.
Themed “Harness Overseas Chinese Strength, Connect Globally, Develop Together”, the conference aimed to use ‘Overseas Chinese’ as a strategic bridge, connecting global resources of overseas Chinese and Quanzhou entrepreneurs to promote high quality development in both domestic and international trade, gather more essential resources in Quanzhou and accelerate the City’s role as a ley trade and economic hub in the dual-circulation economy.
Frankie also emphasised the importance of promoting quality products and services from Quanzhou and Sabah to the international market.
Meanwhile, Cheng Peizhi, President of the International Belt and Road Construction Development Chamber of Commerce, also proposed several initiatives at the conference:
- Deepening the integration of the Belt and Road Initiative and the Maritime Silk Road
- Promoting new models for Quanzhou products to expand overseas
- Strengthening talent exchange and cultivation
- Promoting cultural and trade integration
- Enhancing financial services and innovation
With the theme of “Harness Overseas Chinese Strength, Connect Globally, Develop Together,” this year’s conference included 12 events, such as the launching ceremony of the “Overseas Chinese Supporting Thousands of Enterprises and Products to Go Global” initiative and the release of a cross-border public service platform.
Other featured activities included the cross-border business matchmaking sessions for overseas Chinese entrepreneurs, visits to industrial belts, and the Global Quanzhou Youth Elite Gathering.
Over 1,000 guests from both China and overseas attended.
