SANDAKAN: Sabah-made products recorded RM95.9mil in potential sales from international trade expos last year, showing rising demand for local brands overseas, says its Chief Minister.
Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor said the amount was 37.12% higher than the RM60.4mil recorded a year earlier.
“This shows that Sabah products have the quality, uniqueness and competitiveness to break into the global market,” he said, adding that 124 Sabah entrepreneurs took part in 18 international expos in 2025.
Hajiji said the Jom Malaysia initiative could help more local entrepreneurs widen their market reach and take their products beyond Sabah.
His speech was delivered by Deputy Chief Minister III Datuk Ewon Benedick at the launch of the Jom Malaysia Festival 2026 at the Sandakan Sports Complex here yesterday.
Hajiji said the programme was in line with Sabah’s “local to global” push under the Sabah Maju Jaya 2.0 development plan.
He said Sabah had a growing pool of entrepreneurs producing food, handicrafts, fashion and other locally developed goods with strong commercial potential.
The state recorded a gross domestic product of RM88.8bil last year with economic growth of 5.1%, while its population was estimated at 3.8 million.
Hajiji said the state government was also helping local businesses through the SME-UP programme, which has been allocated RM15mil to support 600 micro, small and medium enterprises.
Another initiative, the Sabah Ready-to-Eat programme, provides development grants, retort machines and halal certification support to help local food producers prepare their products for wider markets.
He said these programmes would help entrepreneurs improve their products, while Jom Malaysia would give them a platform to promote and sell them.
Tourism, he added, could also play a major role in bringing Sabah products to a wider audience, especially ahead of Visit Sabah Year 2027.
Sabah recorded 3.79 million visitor arrivals and RM8.74bil in tourism receipts last year.
“When tourists enjoy local food, buy handicrafts, use local services or bring Sabah-made products home, they become ambassadors for the Sabah brand,” he said.
Hajiji proposed that more Jom Malaysia programmes be held at strategic locations across Sabah during Visit Sabah Year 2027.
He said this would give more local entrepreneurs a chance to participate while introducing Sabah products to domestic and international visitors.
