MINDET will Help Sabah Entrepreneurs Expand into Singapore Market: Ewon

24 January 2026

SINGAPORE: The Sabah Ministry of Industrial Development, Entrepreneurship and Transport (MINDET) will continue to assist Sabah-based companies and entrepreneurs in expanding their products and services into the Singapore market.

Its Minister, who is also Deputy Chief Minister III, Datuk Ewon Benedick, said that as of December 2025, only 261 Sabah companies were registered with the Malaysia External Trade Development Corporation (MATRADE) Singapore, out of a total of 12,742 Malaysian enterprises registered there.

In line with the Sabah First Vision, Ewon said enterprise scaling is one of MINDET’s key priorities, beginning with strengthening production capacity, improving quality, and ensuring compliance with product and service standards among Sabah entrepreneurs.

“I want to see more Sabah companies, including start-ups, developed to the level where they are capable of producing products and services that meet international market standards, including those required in Singapore,” he said.

He was speaking after a visit to MATRADE Singapore and a bilateral discussion with its Director, Siti Nordiana, on the second day of his working visit here on Thursday.

Ewon said he was encouraged to learn that several products manufactured by Sabah entrepreneurs and already available in the Singapore market have received positive responses.

“MINDET, through DIDR and STTOS, will continue to work closely with MATRADE to develop and promote products produced by Sabah entrepreneurs for overseas markets,” he said.

During the same visit, Ewon also met with officials from the Malaysian Investment Development Authority (MIDA) Singapore, including its Director, Vinothan Tulisi.

He noted that Singapore is a hub for thousands of multinational companies and expressed appreciation for MIDA Singapore’s collaboration with STTOS in promoting and facilitating investment into Sabah.

“MINDET, through STTOS, will be organising the Sabah Trade and Investment Forum this August and has invited MIDA Singapore to participate in the forum.

“MIDA Singapore has also identified several potential industry segments and companies planning to expand their operations, including into Sabah,” he said.

Ewon added that MINDET, through STTOS, will continue to intensify efforts to promote Sabah as an investment and business destination, including organising a Sabah Business Trip in collaboration with the Singapore Business Federation (SBF).

Ewon and his delegation also visited the Singapore Cooperation Enterprise (SCE) and held discussions with its Deputy Chief Executive Officer, Tay Lian Chew, and senior management.

He said SCE has a strategic collaboration with the Sabah State Government and will be organising a Business Trip Programme to Sabah this year, which he proposed should also include participation in the Sabah International Expo 2026.

During the visit, Ewon was briefed on several key initiatives undertaken by SCE, including the development of a single-interface platform to facilitate licence applications and business-related processes in Singapore.

He said such initiatives could serve as useful references in strengthening Sabah’s entrepreneurship ecosystem and improving ease of doing business in the state, particularly in supporting the growth of micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs).

Also accompanying Ewon on the visit were Assistant Minister of Industrial Development, Entrepreneurship and Transport Sabah Datuk Jonnybone Kurum and MINDET Permanent Secretary Datuk Thomas Logijin.