Cattle industry could be expanded into leather, handicraft making — Pairin

KOTA KINABALU: There are many downstream industries that could be created out of the cattle industry, said Deputy Chief Minister Tan Sri Joseph Pairin Kitingan.

Apart from being the supply of milk and meat, Pairin said the cattle industry could be further expanded into leather and handicraft making down the road.

Pairin, who is also Infrastructure Development Minister, said the Keningau Integrated Livestock Centre (KILC) project had become a model for the cattle industry in milk and meat production since its inception in 2011.

He said the centre had provided job opportunities especially to the locals as they gained skills related to the cattle industry.

“This project is developing positively. It shows that we have good management and planning,” he said to the media after representing Chief Minister Tan Sri Musa Aman in chairing the 26th meeting of Sabah Economic Development and Investment Authority (SEDIA) and presenting funds to small and medium industries and bumiputera startups here yesterday.

Pairin said Sedia had undertaken many projects and programmes which had created positive impetus to the economy of the State.

“One of the impetus that has been in place is the encouragement of the development of the small industries - small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and small and medium industries (SMI).”

He said the government encouraged the development of SMIs to create better volume, which in turn, would contribute to the export of new products from Sabah.

He said the move would propel Sabah towards becoming a transshipment hub with the development of the Sepanggar Container Port.