‘Big vision’ for POIC Lahad Datu as logistics hub
Published on: Thursday, February 23, 2023
Phoong being briefed on site on the infrastructure upgrading works needed for handing over to the local authorities. Also present was Lahad Datu District Officer Datu Firuz Idzualdeen (far left).
LAHAD DATU: Sabah needs an all-sector approach to addressing infrastructure and utility inadequacies to attract more foreign direct investments (FDIs).The inadequacies, such as power and water supply especially in planned industrial parks, are known to have impeded industrialisation growth in Sabah for decades.
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“We need to gather all government institutions, relevant GLCs, financiers and business seekers to come together to address the problem, including getting investments into infrastructural development in Sabah,” said Phoong Jin Zhe during a visit to the POIC Lahad Datu industrial Park.
The Industrial Development and Entrepreneurship Minister, who has visited the State-owned Kota Kinabalu Industrial Park here and the Sabah Oil and Gas Industrial Park (Sipitang) since his appointment to the State Cabinet about a month ago, said industrialisation remains relevant and important in the current Sabah Maju Jaya development plan.
POIC Lahad Datu, set up in 2005, covers about 4,400 acres, of which about 2,000 acres are developed. POIC also owns and operates its own port, which is widely known as POIC Lahad Datu Port.
It is a project led by State-owned POIC Sabah Sdn Bhd, and has drawn about RM3.5 billion investments so far, said its CEO Datuk Fredian Gan in a briefing.
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Fredian also updated on the current development status of POIC and its way forward.
Phoong said the industry’s need for reliably electricity supply must be prioritised if Sabah’s economic growth is to continue.
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He added that he would seek to have the Chief Minister himself lead a high-level working group to seek a comprehensive and “once and for all” solution to the long-time problem.
He also spoke about a “big vision” of Sabah leapfrogging into green technology-driven industrial sectors and linkages with major markets instead of relying entirely on generic economic growth.
He hailed the repositioning of POIC Lahad Datu by diversifying into logistics and exploiting the strategic location of the Sabah east coast within East Asean and the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), a 15-nation grouping led by China, Asean members and several other economies.
He also pledged to help push for the granting of Free Zone status (federal jurisdiction) for POIC Lahad Datu to enhance the industrial park’s attractiveness to foreign manufacturers.
Phoong was accompanied during the visit by his Ministry’s Deputy Permanent Secretary Benedick Bisoni, Lahad Datu District Officer Firuz Idzualdeen, senior POIC Sabah Board of Directors and managers.
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