Kota Kinabalu: Sabah welcomes serious investors to come and establish win-win partnerships, said Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor.
He said with the state economy transforming remarkably from an economy rooted primarily in the primary sectors into a multifaceted powerhouse, it was vital to attract investors that can produce developments with real results.
“As we align with Malaysia’s broader economic objectives, our commitment to growth remains unwavering. Sabah is open for business,” he said in his keynote address at the Sabah Asia-Pacific Impact Investing for Sustainable Development Summit at Magellan Sutera Resort, Monday.
His speech was read by Deputy Chief Minister II cum Finance Minister Datuk Seri Masidi Manjun.
The Chief Minister said the summit was timely, as it provided a forum for thought leaders to discuss a crucial pillar: impact investing in the context of sustainable development.
“We recognise that impact investing, at its core, means deploying capital into investments that generate measurable social and environmental benefits alongside a financial return.
“Sabah looks forward to investors who can blend expertise, experience and funding to advance inclusive, social and ecological development with real results,” he said.
He said the summit marked an important step in Sabah’s journey to become one of Asia-Pacific’s leading labs for sustainable development and impact investing.
Just two months ago, he said he spoke at a Sustainability Summit here where he explained that, long before sustainability became an international agenda, Sabah had already been protecting its forests, oceans, wildlife and some of the richest ecosystems in this region.
“Sabah has contributed, not only in words but through policy, land stewardship and real sacrifice.
“Today, we are proud that almost 30 per cent of Sabah’s landmass is under Totally Protected Areas. We also maintain our status as a net carbon sink (carbon-negative state) based on greenhouse gas inventory data, supported by the significant forested areas that strengthen the nation’s carbon-absorption capacity.
“Our inclusive forest management approach, built with local communities, enables us to strike a balance between environmental conservation and the socio-economic wellbeing of our people. Step outside and you will feel it. Sabah’s heart and soul are rooted in our natural heritage. It is who we are,” he said.
At the same time, the Chief Minister emphasised that Sabah’s development needs remain real and urgent.
“We need better roads, more reliable electricity, cleaner water and greater economic opportunity. Our people require tangible improvements in livelihoods. And we are clear: we cannot pursue growth that sacrifices the environment on which we depend in the long term.
“The question before us is not sustainability or development. It is how we build and practise an unexplored model where sustainability becomes the engine of real economic growth.
“That is the theme of this summit and it is both the central challenge and the central opportunity for my administration,” he said.
He said the Asia-Pacific region is poised for remarkable growth, driven by dynamic economies, rapid urbanisation and expanding market potential, making it a magnet for investment opportunities.
“The world is looking to Asia-Pacific not only for economic potential, but also for thought leadership in key sectors such as technology, green energy and sustainable development.
“Forums like this summit provide the ideal platform for industry leaders to forge global collaborations and introduce transformative solutions,” he said.
The Chief Minister also thanked the Chairman of the George Town Institute of Open and Advanced Studies (Gioas) at the Wawasan Open University, Penang, Tan Sri Andrew Sheng, and his team for jointly organising this summit with the Sabah Government through the Tourism, Culture and Environment Ministry.
