STTOS Strengthens Efforts to Promote Sabah’s Trade and Tourism

23 January 2026

SINGAPORE: Sabah Trade & Tourism Office Singapore (STTOS) should further intensify its efforts in promoting Sabah’s trade and tourism.

Sabah’s Deputy Chief Minister III and Minister of Industrial Development, Entrepreneurship and Transport, Datuk Ewon Benedick said STTOS plays a vital role as the state government’s frontline agency in promoting Sabah’s investment, trade and tourism potential, particularly in the Singapore market, which is among Sabah’s key trading partners and sources of investment.

According to him, STTOS’s sustained efforts to date have had a positive impact by increasing the participation of Sabah-based companies in the Singapore market, while also stimulating greater investment interest from Singapore in Sabah.

“I appreciate the efforts of STTOS in driving the promotion of investment, trade and tourism in Sabah, which have contributed to the participation of Sabah local companies in the Singapore market and increased investment interest from Singapore in the state.

“I have shared several views, particularly on the promotion of new industrial parks in Sabah under the purview of MINDET, as well as the promotion of community-based rural tourism, such as in Kadamaian."

“I have also requested STTOS to promote the products and services of Sabah’s small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), especially those recognised through the Sabah Industry Awards, so that they can penetrate international markets,” he said.

He made these remarks after paying a visit to STTOS, an agency under the Sabah Ministry of Industrial Development, Entrepreneurship and Transport (MINDET), on the first day of his working visit to Singapore yesterday.

During the visit, Ewon received a briefing from STTOS Managing Director Wendy Clare Stephen on the office’s role and achievements in promoting Sabah’s investment, trade and tourism in the Singapore market.

In addition to Singapore, he also received proposals for the establishment of similar representative offices in other countries to promote Sabah as an investment destination, as well as to enhance the quality and standards of products and services offered by Sabah’s micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs), in line with MINDET’s Sabah First vision.

He noted that STTOS’s continued efforts have contributed to increased participation by Sabah local companies in the Singapore market and have helped spur investment interest from Singapore into Sabah.

In this regard, he expressed his appreciation for STTOS’s commitment and its strategic role as a key link between Sabah and the international business community.

As part of the same working visit, Ewon held bilateral discussions with the Singapore Business Federation (SBF), led by its Director, Tan Shu Yee.

SBF is the apex business organisation representing around 35,000 companies in Singapore, many of which are keen to focus their investments in Borneo, including Sabah.

He shared information on the expansion of industrial parks in Sabah and the role of MINDET in facilitating foreign direct investment (FDI) into the state.

“I will be hosting a meeting with SBF in Sabah during their delegation’s visit next month as part of our ongoing efforts to develop an investor-friendly ecosystem in Sabah in line with the Sabah First vision.

“I also met with Esteel Sabah to discuss the potential expansion of the company’s investments in Sabah,” he said.

The working visit reflects the Sabah Government’s commitment to further strengthening international networks, attracting quality investments and expanding market access for local products and services.

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