KOTA KINABALU: The vision to make Sabah the ‘next Dubai’ is achievable through continued close partnership between the state government and the manufacturing and industrial sectors.
Chief Minister Datuk Seri Musa Aman said apart from its strategic location within the Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines – East ASEAN Growth Area (BIMP-EAGA), Sabah also had a composition of positive factors it could bank on in achieving this goal.
This included the availability of petroleum and gas, large oil palm plantations, sawn timber and plywood, and political stability which allow for holistic development plans to be carried out. Sabah also has qualities that make it one of the favourite tourist spots in the world, and more importantly, the state government is clear about Sabah’s potential as a thriving business and trading hub in the region.
“Lest it be said that the state only provides lip service to the proposed vision of Sabah being the next Dubai, I reiterate the state’s commitment to this goal by sharing with you that the Sabah Development Corridor (SDC) launched in 2008 is working out well.
“SDC leverages on key areas such as agriculture, tourism and manufacturing, and is working out well under the driving force of the Sabah Economic Development and Investment Authority (SEDIA), which is tasked with the primary responsibility of planning, coordinating, promoting and accelerating the development of SDC,” he said.
Musa said this in his officiating speech at the launching dinner of Borneo International Trade Fair (BITF) 2013 here, last night.
The text of his speech was read by Special Tasks Minister Datuk Teo Chee Kang, who also officiated at the dinner on his behalf. Musa said the support given by the government to the latest effort carried out by the Federation of Sabah Industries (FSI) in promoting Sabah in the context of the manufacturing sector to turn the state into a hub for the Far East was also a testament to its commitment to make Sabah the next Dubai.
Musa, who is also Finance Minister, also noted that RM1.2 billion from the RM3.024 billion allocated to the state by the federal government under the 10th Malaysia Plan has been used as of September.
A total of RM503.3 million from the RM1.05 billion approved state funding has been spent while RM1.313 billion from the RM1.541 billion funds allocated to the SDC authority SEDIA have been disbursed. Furthermore, SDC has reached RM116 billion total committed investments since its launch almost six years ago, he added.
Touching on BITF, he said the popular biennial trade event had drawn much interest and unprecedented success in business transactions since its inception in 2007. He said the event provided the perfect stage for the state to promote its products and services at the international level, and to push local businesses to reach beyond borders in terms of marketing their products and services or to be exposed to various opportunities that were otherwise not available locally.
Stressing that BITF and other trade fair events played an important role towards achieving the next Dubai vision, he urged participants to take the opportunity to exchange ideas, knowledge and information, as well as to take up potential business prospects to be made available through the event.