KOTA KINABALU: Sabah is aiming to expand its global market ventures through collaboration with AirAsia, according to Datuk Seri Dr Jeffrey Kitingan.
Kitingan, the Deputy Chief Minister of Sabah and Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food Industry, expressed his support for any initiatives that would help boost Sabah’s export sectors during a recent meeting with the AirAsia team led by CEO Riad Asmat. Asmat provided an overview of AirAsia’s ecosystem, focusing on their specialized ventures—GTR, Teleport, and AirAsia Grocer.
Asmat stated that these ventures played a crucial role in exporting fresh products such as vegetables and seafood from Sabah to Peninsular Malaysia and international markets, including China and Hong Kong.
Among the innovative initiatives discussed was the adoption of cold chain technology by AirAsia Grocer. They have established a new cold room facility in Inanam to ensure that Sabah’s products reach their destinations in optimal condition.
The airline is also planning to export Tambunan ginger powder to China, packaged in tea bags, as informed to Kitingan.
Kitingan commended AirAsia for its contributions to Sabah’s economy. He believes that AirAsia’s implementation of cold chain technology could revolutionize the global perception of Sabah’s products.
“I am particularly excited about AirAsia’s efforts to export Tambunan ginger powder to China,” Kitingan stated. “Sabah’s agricultural sector has immense untapped potential, and this venture could be a catalyst for our international success.”
Kitingan emphasized the importance of multi-stakeholder engagement for Sabah’s growth and expressed his commitment to ensuring the success of collaborations like this one. He viewed the meeting as invaluable and believed AirAsia could serve as a significant ally in the state government’s mission to enhance Sabah’s export capabilities.
“The world needs to take notice of what Sabah has to offer, and I fully support our promising journey,” added Kitingan.
