BIMP-EAGA BUSINESS COUNCIL SABAH PAYS COURTESY VISIT TO JOACHIM
7 JAN 2021
KOTA KINABALU: BIMP-EAGA Business Council (BEBC) Sabah paid a courtesy call to Minister of Industrial Development Datuk Dr Joachim Gunsalam here, today.
BEBC Sabah chairman Carl Mosoom gave an overview of their programmes and activities, particularly ones during the pandemic movement control since March to December, current organisation, investment proposals, current affairs, as well as issues and challenges faced by the council.
Joachim who is also the state’s deputy chief minister expressed his appreciation to and advised the council to focus on the platform, especially on the announcement of Jakarta relocation to Kalimantan.
“This is an opportunity for us to see how Sabah may benefit out of this and the State Cabinet is aware the cross-border road linking the southern border of Sabah to Kalimantan is identified,” he said.
He further explained that the road at the Kalimantan is now sealed but Sabah side is still in the infancy planning stage according to his report to date.
On transport linkages, the scheduled Philippines Airline service between Zamboanga – Kota Kinabalu is temporary halted due to the pandemic.
The proposal by an Indonesian flag vessel to serve the Tg. Silopo, Sulawesi Barat and Lahad Datu, Sabah will proceed as planned and is hoped to resume services once border-crossing is allowed.
As Sabah-Palawan trade route is affected by the lockdown from both countries, BEBC Deputy Chairman Datuk James Lim proposed the government to look into the barter trade options for Kudat as the neighbouring islands of the Philippines may contribute about a million ringgit of goods monthly which would be a good spinoff for Kudat town.
BEBC Sabah also assured that the investors have been identified for POIC however all this planning slow coming in view of the national movement order.
Moosom also took the opportunity to brief the minister on the council's next major event - the BIMPEAGA Exhibition and Conference 2021 - which will be held from Jan 23-25 at the Shangri-la Tanjung Aru Resort.
He added the provincial government of Tawi-Tawi and Sulawesi Barat have pledged to attend under invitation by the main organiser the Sabah Port Sdn Bhd and Chartered Institute Logistics & Transport (CILT) Malaysia. Both ASEAN and BIMPEAGA industry players are expected to attend the inaugural event.
Also present were the Permanent Secretary of Ministry Industrial Development Thomas Logijin and Deputy Permanent Secretary Tseu.
BEBC Sabah was accompanied by Lim and BEBC advisor Datuk Susan Chang as well as Founding President of the Sabah Small and Medium Enterprise (SME) Association NK Foo.
NK also shared his views on the need for Sabah to improve the roads connecting to Kalimantan to promote bilateral trade. who opined that Sabah SMEs can supply many items at favourable prices to Kalimantan through Sabah’s better connectivity with China – the world’s factory.
"This has to be quick before contractors and traders from China make an inroad to Kalimantan when Indonesia is building their new capital," he said.
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