Sabah poised for tech hub status

6 August 2024

KOTA KINABALU : Sabah is poised to emerge as a centre of technological advancement, with a strong emphasis on actively encouraging and nurturing innovation, stated Datuk Seri Panglima Hajiji Noor, the Chief Minister.

He emphasised that in the fast-paced world of today, the seamless integration of technology and innovation is essential for driving economic development.

He said that the government's objective is to establish an ecosystem that bolsters the development of small and medium enterprises (SMEs), drives digital transformation, and cultivates a culture of innovation in Sabah.

"The state government remains steadfast in its commitment to economic growth and upholds an open-door policy for investors. Additionally, it is actively exploring new economic avenues such as the Blue Economy, which is poised to revolutionize Sabah's economy and align with the trajectory of the Sabah Maju Jaya (SMJ) development initiative."

"Our current focus is on creating a conducive environment for business development, attracting domestic and foreign investments, and ensuring that our workforce is equipped with the necessary skills to meet future demands," he said at the launching ceremony of the "MTDC Road to Growth (R2G) 2024-Sabah at the Sabah International Covention Centre (SICC) on Tuesday.

Hajiji said that in the 12th Malaysia Plan and the SMJ Development Plan, Science, Technology, and Innovation (STI) have been identified as one of the important drivers that propel socio-economic development.

Therefore, he said, the Strategic Plan of the Ministry of Science, Technology, and Innovation (2022-2025) has been formulated as a guide for the implementation of various programs and initiatives to strengthen the Science, Technology, Innovation, and Economy (STIE) ecosystem in Sabah.

He said that the Sabah Centre for Creative Economy and Innovation (SCENIC) will continue various programs to ensure that the human capital talent in Sabah continues to be honed, including driving the state's animation industry as the first Toon Boom Licensed Training Center in Malaysia.

He said, "MTDC Road to Growth (R2G) 2024 - Sabah" is a direct response to that call to action, demonstrating our commitment to seek and nurture new paths for the economic growth of the state of Sabah.

"SEDIA has taken swift and aggressive actions to drive the economic development of our state. Their dedication to transforming Sabah into a dynamic and prosperous state in line with technological advancements will continue to be supported," he added.

He said the state government welcomes MOSTI's initiative introducing the Local R&D Products and Services Utilization Program (MySTI), an initiative that will benefit entrepreneurs, universities, research institutions, and the government in leveraging local innovation products and R&D.

Hajiji said that this initiative will also stimulate local industry growth, especially in Sabah, in the technology sector, which has been identified as one of the new economic sources.

"I want all these opportunities to be seized and utilized to the fullest by universities, research institutions, and entrepreneurs in this state to register and obtain the MySTI logo," he said.

He also hopes that through the "MTDC Road to Growth (R2G) 2024 - Sabah" programme, local workforce can be empowered with the skills and knowledge needed to succeed in a technology-based economy and drive innovation that encourages the adoption of advanced technology and innovative solutions to enhance productivity and competitiveness in various industries in Sabah.