KOTA KINABALU: Sabah aims to position itself as a strategic gateway for investors to access emerging opportunities across Borneo, Brunei Darussalam–Indonesia–Malaysia–Philippines East Asean Growth Area (BIMP-EAGA), and Asean, Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor (pic) said on Thursday.
In a speech read by Deputy Chief Minister II Datuk Seri Masidi Manjun at the Sabah International Business Luncheon Talk (SIBLT2026) on Thursday (Sept 3), Hajiji urged investors and business leaders to look beyond the domestic market and view the state as a springboard for regional growth.
"It is our aspiration for Sabah to become a gateway—a place where ideas meet capital, entrepreneurs meet partners, innovation meets opportunity, and local businesses connect with regional and global markets," Hajiji said.
He emphasised that while the state government is focused on creating a supportive ecosystem for innovation, public-private collaboration is vital to navigating global disruptions like artificial intelligence, climate change, and shifting market dynamics.
Hajiji added that the state's ultimate goal is to nurture local talent and scale Sabah-based businesses into competitive regional and global players.
The event, which drew nearly 750 business leaders, investors, and policymakers, featured Sunway Group Founder and Chairman Tan Sri Dr Jeffrey Cheah as its keynote speaker.
