KOTA KINABALU: Sabah is now one of the emerging economic powerhouses of Malaysia and Asean, says Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor.
“Sabah has always been known for its natural beauty and rich cultural heritage, but it is now also... one of the top six contributors to Malaysia's GDP, adding 5.5% last year.
"Indeed, this is a testament to our growing economic influence and aligns with our broader goals of developing Sabah as reflected in our (Hala Tuju Sabah Maju Jaya) plan," he said at the closing ceremony of the Conference of the Asean Federation of Engineering Organisations (Cafeo 42) here on Friday (Oct 24).
The Chief Minister acknowledged the key role of engineers in solving the unique challenges the state faced moving forward, and their place at the core of efforts to build resilient infrastructure as well as establish sustainable practices.
Hajiji, whose speech was read by state Finance Minister Datuk Seri Masidi Manjun, said Sabah's five-year development plan that began in 2021 served as the framework for sectoral development with agriculture, industry and tourism as pillars.
“Key sectors such as energy, manufacturing, and tourism are rapidly expanding, with... initiatives that will promote growth in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) education and workforce development," he said.
Hajiji said the state’s commitment to expanding its infrastructure, whether through road connectivity, ports, or digital, will strengthen links within Malaysia and the Asean region.
Collaborations formed at Cafeo 42 would help propel Sabah towards being a central player in Asean's growth, he added.
