Potential for Sabah products to be sold in BIMP-EAGA

PENANG: Food manufacturing industry in Sabah has huge potential to be further developed to cater for the Brunei Darussalam-Indonesia-Malaysia-Philippines East Asean Growth Area ( BIMP-EAGA) markets.

Kota Kinabalu Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Industry ( KKCCCI) president Datuk Michael Lui said the food manufacturing industry was currently still underdeveloped in Sabah.

“With Sabah’s strategic location at the centre of BIMP-EAGA region, there are huge opportunities to export our local food products to the Philippines, Brunei, Kalimantan in Indonesia and even Sarawak.

“Local entrepreneurs should tap into the potential of the food manufacturing industry to cater for the densely-populated markets in the region.” Lui said that after visiting Barkath CoRo Manufacturing Sdn Bhd at Butterworth and Sky Thomas Food Industries Sdn Bhd at Bukit Mertajam on Tuesday.

KKCCCI has organised a business and tourism trip to Penang for a 40-member delegation from Aug 13 to 16.

He said the visit to Barkath Co-Ro Manufacturing Sdn Bhd and Sky Thomas Food Industries had been fruitful and informative.

Lui suggested the local food manufacturing industry to emulate their more successful Penang counterparts.

Incorporated in 1992, Barkath Co-Ro Manufacturing Sdn Bhd is a joint venture company between Kumpulan Barkath Sdn Bhd and Co-Ro Food A/S to produce Sunquick fruit juice concentrate.