Sabah govt to identify suitable approach to develop Sandakan POIC

SANDAKAN: The Sabah state government will identify the appropriate approach to attract investments into the Sandakan Palm Oil Industrial Cluster (POIC).

Sabah Health and People’s Wellbeing Minister Stephen Wong Tien Fatt said after 10 years of the POIC’s establishment, investments in the cluster remain low, with only Sawit Kinabalu, a state government company, opening a palm oil storage and export centre there.

“There are undeveloped sites in Sandakan POIC, and a suitable approach is needed so that the area is properly used in order to promote Sandakan’s economy,” he said when met by reporters after a meeting with traders at Harbour View here yesterday.

The 1,120-hectare Sandakan POIC, situated in Batu Sapi, was developed as a palm oil downstream industrial area for domestic and foreign investors.

Wong, who is also Sandakan MP, said he will organise a forum on the direction of Sandakan POIC’s development with POIC Sabah Sdn Bhd on the actions that can be taken to develop the POIC.

He said ensuring all the districts in the state are developed with existing resources is the commitment of the state government led by Chief Minister Datuk Seri Shafie Apdal.

Wong also expressed optimism that the decision by the state cabinet two weeks ago to revive barter trade with neighbouring countries, suspended by the previous government in 2016, would promote the district’s economy and benefit the traders involved.

He stressed that smuggling of subsidised goods out of Sabah, the main reason for the suspension of the trade, could be prevented by effective enforcement by the relevant agencies. — Bernama