SCCC to promote bilateral trade between Sabah and China

KOTA KINABALU: Sabah is an ideal entry point to penetrate into the ASEAN market, given the State’s central location in the Brunei Indonesia Malaysia Philippines East ASEAN Growth Area (BIMP-EAGA) region.

Sabah China Chamber of Commerce (SCCC) president, Datuk Frankie Liew, said, Sabah is the gateway into the ASEAN market that has over 600 million population.

“Tourism, agriculture, plantation, bird’s nest farming and seafood are the main business sectors in Sabah, which have attracted Chinese investors,” he said.

He hoped that more China officials and entrepreneurs would visit Sabah and explore the investment opportunities here.

“We hope to see transfer of technology through joint ventures between local entrepreneurs and their counterparts from China,” Liew said during a dialogue with delegates from Zhuhai city, Guangdong province, China here yesterday.

SCCC, officially registered with the Registrar of Societies (ROS) on February 28 this year, was established to promote and facilitate investment, exchange of information and business matching between the State and China.

Liew said, the inception of the chamber was in line with the State Government’s policy direction and agenda of restoring the status of Sabah and Sarawak as equal partners with Peninsular Malaysia.

“With members comprising successful entrepreneurs from various industries, SCCC will be able to enhance connectivity and allow both China and Sabah to harness each other’s strengths that would ultimately lead to a win-win situation,” he said.

Liew said, SCCC’s objectives include promoting cooperation and bilateral trade between Sabah and China; providing trade and financial related information to its members; and safeguarding members’ interests and offering advisory services when necessary.

Among the activities to be organized are exhibitions, forums, training and providing investment guide services.

“Our members come from the property, plantation, agriculture, tourism, hotel, timber, construction, creative design, media, education and cultural industries,” he said.