KOTA KINABALU: Sabah has the talent, but needs more domestic and foreign investments to speed up the industrialisation process.
Sabah Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Dr Joachim Gunsalam said the state had the skills, capability and expertise to develop its industries.
"So we must capture the value of these resources."
Dr Joachim, who is also state industrial development minister, said this in his speech at the opening of the two-day Sabah Entrepreneurs Creation Camp at Wisma Tun Fuad Stephens here today.
Some 100 participants are attending the camp.
Dr Joachim said he is hopeful the participants can bring billions in investments into Sabah through their innovative ideas and businesses.
He said the state Industrial Development Ministry will always support initiatives that are in line with its mission to speed up industrial and entrepreneurial development in Sabah.
He said the Industrial Development and Research Department under the ministry is playing its role in promoting Sabah's industries.
He said the department and GM Klang Wholesale Centre (GM Klang) inked a collaboration agreement last month to promote products made by Sabah's small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).
Under the agreement, three retail and product exhibition outlets would be allocated for Sabah-made SME products at GM Klang.
"Renovation work is ongoing and it will be ready in September this year," Dr Joachim said.
He said the ministry has brought billions in foreign direct investments into Sabah, such as SK Nexilis, a South Korean copper foil manufacturer valued at RM4.2 billion, and SBH Kibing Solar New Materials (M) Sdn Bhd, a solar glass maker which has pumped in RM2 billion.
The camp was organised by the Malaysia Entrepreneurs' Development Association in collaboration with the Industrial Development Ministry and GA Space.
Present were Industrial Development and Research Department director Tseu Kei Yue and Malaysia Entrepreneurs' Development Association Sabah Chapter chairman Datuk George Lim.
ENDS
KW: Sabah, talent, development, industrialisation, Joachim Gunsalam, Industrial Development Ministry, Sabah Entrepreneurs Creation Camp, investment, foreign direct investment, FDI, SMEs, SME