More than RM4 billion invested in Sabah Development Corridor in two years

SANDAKAN: The private sector has invested more than RM4 billion in the Sabah Development Corridor (SDC) related projects, since its launch two years ago.

Chief Minister Datuk Seri Musa Aman said in addition, another RM20 billion worth of investments are in the planning stage with some initiatives having been highlighted in the Budget 2010.

"Both the national and state budgets place emphasis on the role of the private sector in economic development, particularly in terms of investment and capital mobilisation," he said at the East Malaysia Planters Association (EMPA) Seminar on Ganoderma Disease of Oil Palm In East Malaysia, here Monday, April 5.

His speech was read by Minister of Industrial Development, Datuk Raymond Tan Shu Kiah.

Musa said the SDC projects include the development of the Palm Oil Industrial Cluster (POIC) in Sandakan and the integrated Livestock Centre in Keningau.

He said the POIC Sandakan will spur the development of the Bio-Triangle strategic development area, which includes the Sandakan Education Hub and the Agropolitan project for the Tongod and Beluran areas.

He added the state government welcomed efforts in developing new sources of growth, particularly in green technologies, the creative industry and industries based on niche areas such as health tourism, information and communication technology (ICT) and the Halal sector.

"The government will also support initiatives to implement incubator programmes to train youths and graduates to become agro-preneurs in collaboration with various agencies.

"This is in line with the efforts to develop a high value agriculture industry, including in agro-biotechnology, specialty natural products in the Sabah Agro Industrial Precinct and the SME Agro-Food Zone in the Brunei Bay Development area under the SDC," Musa said.

He added that to ensure Sabah achieved developed status by 2015, the state government was focusing on meeting key pre-requisites, including the development of highly skilled and competent human resource, equipped with science and technology know-how. -- Bernama