All approved investment proposals to be implemented speedily
KOTA KINABALU: The State Government will empower the Manufacturing Investment Task Force this year to ensure that all approved investment proposals in the state can be realised and implemented speedily.
Head of State Tun Juhar Mahiruddin said focus will continue to be given to the implementation of initiatives to increase investor confidence in potential areas that have been identified.
The potential areas are products based on green technology including solar and batteries, the downstream industry of palm oil biomass/biomass (bio industry) and mineral resources, low energy intensification industry, processing and food manufacturing, medical device and other industries supporting existing manufacturing industries.
“In the aspect of entrepreneurship development, the State Government will continue efforts to help and empower local Small and Medium Enterprise (SME) entrepreneurs through the implementation of the SME-UP Assistance Program and the establishment of Sabah State Entrepreneurship Development Coordination Committee.
“The State Government will also identify and promote some local entrepreneurial companies to be more competitive to penetrate the export market as well as add more business space for bumiputera entrepreneurs through the implementation of socioeconomic projects with organised, comfortable and affordable business premises facilities.
“Cooperation with the Ministry of Entrepreneur Development and Cooperatives will be strengthened in implementing high-impact programmes that suit the current needs and wants of entrepreneurs in this state,” he said in his address at the opening of the 16th State Legislative Assembly sitting on Thursday.
According to Juhar also, with the recovery of the tourism sector, the State Government is targeting the arrival of 2.8 million to three million tourists to Sabah this year.
In order to achieve this target, the government will accelerate the implementation of various high-impact tourism initiatives and programmes including the provision of incentives to industry players as an encouragement to be more active in increasing the growth of this sector.
“The expansion of the air network is the most important agenda since the reopening of the state’s border gates. In order to increase the competitiveness of Sabah in the ASEAN region, the State Government continues the implementation of incentives for international airlines in addition to supporting and encouraging the sustainability of the aviation industry,” he said.