KOTA KINABALU: The Palm Oil Industrial Cluster (POIC) in Lahad Datu, which is strategically located in the East Asean region, will drive the growth of the industry locally and put the district on the world map, says Datuk Seri Dr Maximus Ongkili.
The Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Sabah and Sarawak Affairs) said POIC was designed to be a logistics distribution hub, thanks to its strategic location.
He said the Lahad Datu POIC's location was within the Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines - East Asean Growth Area (BIMP-EAGA).
He said this in a statement after visiting POIC on Saturday (Sept 10) as part of his two-day official visit there.
Ongkili said its modern and state-of-the-art port facilities could drive new business opportunities, especially the BIMP border trading, in light of the development and repositioning of Indonesia's new capital to Nusantara.
"The economic scenarios in the BIMP zone have changed with new commercial opportunities in the port business and industrial manufacturing sectors, especially oil palm downstream processing and agro-based chemicals.
"These industries could grow through POIC, and its port is designed to tap the business potentials and attract wider interest from investors within the region, and the world," he said.
Also present were POIC Sabah Sdn Bhd chairman Datuk Seri Yong Teck Lee and chief executive officer Datuk Fredian Gan.
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