Potential collaborations to spur industrialisation in the State
23 August 2024
KOTA KINABALU: Sabah is making significant strides towards industrialisation, aiming to bridge the gap with more developed regions.
Highlighting the state's economic progress, Industrial Development and Entrepreneurship Minister Datuk Phoong Jin Zhe revealed that Sabah achieved an impressive 4.4% GDP growth last year, the highest among all states in the country.
Speaking at a meeting with a delegation from the Sabah state government and Jilin Municipal Party secretary Hu Bin, Phoong emphasised Sabah's strategic advantages. These include its central location within ASEAN and its position as the home to the country's second-largest international airport.
While acknowledging Sabah's industrialisation efforts, Phoong expressed a keen interest in learning from Jilin's experiences, citing a recent visit to the Jilin Agriculture and Food International Expo as eye-opening and enlightening.
The collaborative spirit between Sabah and Jilin was evident as the two regions signed five memorandums of understanding (MoUs). Phoong expressed confidence in the potential for substantial progress with the support of the Jilin government and businesses.
Looking ahead, Phoong shared plans to promote cultural exchange by encouraging more Sabahans to visit Jilin during the winter season. Additionally, he eagerly anticipated the opportunity for Jilin residents to experience Sabah's renowned durians, hinting at potential future cooperation opportunities.
Present during the event were Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Industrial Development and Entrepreneurship, Datuk Thomas Logijin; Invest Sabah Berhad CEO Dr Firdaus Suffian and deputy chairman George Wong; members of the Sabah Economic Advisory Council, Datuk John Lo and Datuk Prof Foo Ngee Kee; President of Sabah China Chamber of Commerce, Datuk Frankie Liew, Deputy President Brett Chua, Honorary Advisor Datuk Aloysius Tan, Vice President Datuk Jonathan Koh, JP, Vice President cum Young Entrepreneurs Chairman Chiew Heng Hock, Director of Public Relations Datuk Simon Teoh, Director of Commercial Affairs Douglas Fong, Director of IT & Information Ling Hang Tze and Director of Business Media Leo Liew.
Phoong’s visit included the FAW Jiefang Intelligent (AI) Vehicle Plant and the FAW Jilin Automobile Factory, with the hope of attracting investment to establish factories in Sabah, thereby promoting the growth of industrialization in Sabah.
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