KOTA KINABALU: Investments worth billions have been attracted to Sabah, thanks to its strategic location and resource advantages in the post-pandemic era. China’s consul general in Kota Kinabalu, Huang Shifang, highlighted that this demonstrates the enormous potential and prospects for mutually beneficial cooperation between China and Sabah within the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) framework.
Speaking during a media engagement session, Huang mentioned that Sabah, being a crucial point along the 21st-Century Maritime Silk Road, has become an appealing investment destination for Chinese businesses. The stunning landscapes, abundant resources, and harmonious society in Sabah provide a strong foundation and promising prospects for practical collaboration between the two places.
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China’s support for Sabah’s economy goes beyond tourism and infrastructure; it extends to high-end manufacturing, green energy, logistics, transportation, and more, said Huang. As an example, she mentioned the photovoltaic glass production line and silica sand mining and processing project invested by China Kibing Group in the Kota Kinabalu Industrial Park (KKIP) and Kudat, with a total investment of nearly RM3bil. Once completed, the projects will generate an annual output of 1.2 million tonnes of silica sand and 900,000 tons of photovoltaic glass, creating over 2,000 new jobs, mainly for locals.
Huang also highlighted the efforts of Kibing Group in enhancing Sabah’s labour force by arranging for over 600 Sabahans to receive production skills training in China this year, contributing to economic and social development. Another example she cited was the joint company formed by China Guangken Rubber Group and Bornion Timber Company in 2009 for a 12,000ha rubber plantation project, which has been rated as an A+ grade project by the Sabah Forestry Department.
Huang explained that the BRI initiative was proposed in 2013 by Chinese President Xi Jinping to develop the Silk Road Economic Belt and the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road, based on his visits to Kazakhstan and Indonesia. Its ultimate goal is to establish new paths for common development among neighboring nations. Over the past decade, the BRI has evolved from a concept to tangible action, effectively realizing its vision and creating a new platform for international cooperation and exchange.
Credit: The Star : News Feed
