Kota Kinabalu: Sabah Agro-Industrial Precinct (SAIP) is now placed under Sabah Economic Development Corporation (Sedco), an agency under the State Industrial Development and Entrepreneurship Ministry (MIDE).
Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor said the transfer of the SAIP under appropriate agencies and Ministry was aimed at transforming the SAIP into a commercial entity.
“I am grateful that the intention of the State Government has entered the management transition phase to agencies that can play a role to commercialise SAIP, with the agreements signed today.
“MIDE’s initiative and efforts in ensuring that SAIP’s management is taken over by its agency is highly appreciated.
“Well done and congratulations to Sedco as well as its management for accepting the State Government’s response to take over SAIP despite the agro industry is not one of Sedco’s main business sectors,” he said at the SAIP tripartite agreement takeover of management signing ceremony between Sabah Economic Development and Investment Authority (Sedia), Institute for Development Studies (IDS) and Sedco, as well as a Memorandum of Understanding on the Establishment of an Inspection Centre, at the Kimanis Ballroom, Hyatt Regency Kota Kinabalu, Friday.
The text of his speech was read by Deputy Chief Minister I cum Agriculture, Fisheries and Food Industry (MAFFI) Minister Datuk Seri Dr Jeffrey Kitingan.
Hajiji said Sedco has been in the State’s economic scene since 1971 and plays a role in the manufacturing, service, trade sectors, and socio-economic development in commercial and industrial Bumiputera societies.
According to him, in 50 years, Sedco has helped move economic development of the State, in major cities throughout Sabah, and is a pioneer that has evolved the economy of small areas and isolated with the construction of shophouses and affordable commercial lots.
Thus he is confident and believes that with the transition of SAIP under Sedco, the agricultural sector will not only become its new portfolio business but a sustainable and viable one, as Sedco has helped the Government much in driving the State’s economy to a higher level.
“With the signing of this agreement, Sedco will be able to move forward and ensure that SAIP is transformed into an independent commercial entity and is sustainable.
This is in line with the State Government’s commitment to make SAIP another driver of the State’s economy. Most importantly, through this shift, more relevant new fields can be explored,” he said.
Hajiji hopes that by taking on new responsibilities in the agro sector, Sedco can help to be a catalyst in increasing food supply in Sabah, in line with the efforts of the State Government in the State Budget 2024, to continue improving the yield and quality of agricultural products to ensure self- sufficiency of all food supplies continues to increase.
He said with the facility at SAIP, Sedco can focus on producing pharmaceutical products through research and development using local herbal plants and production of health food products.
“These two products will be able to help in increasing the scale of traders in Sabah not only for the local market but also the international market,” he said.
Hajiji said the implementation of various high-impact projects through the Sabah Maju Jaya (SMJ) development plan which is entering its second year of implementation this year has begun to bear fruit.
According to him, the State’s economy has recorded a positive growth rate of 1.1 per cent in 2021 compared to a 9.2 per cent contraction in the year 2020, reflecting that SMJ is able to push the State’s positive growth momentum at a better rate.
Hajiji also wants MAFFI to play a big role in dealing with supply and food security of the State, establish precise and complete cooperation with ministries and other agencies to further enhance the results and nutritional diversity through agro-agriculture.
