KOTA KINABALU – Sabah small- and medium-scale enterprises (SMEs) made over RM4.2 million in sales revenue in 2021 in a state-initiated marketing programme with local retail outlets.
Sabah deputy chief minister Datuk Joachim Gunsalam said Sabah SMEs made “encouraging performance” after the collaborations with Bataras Mart and Kedai Mesra Petronas.
Additionally, the state industrial development minister said RM344,311 in sales was made via collaboration with Petronas Dagangan Bhd.
“The target for marketing Sabah SME products in the local market is RM5 million this year,” he said during his ministry’s winding-up speech in the state legislative assembly today.
Gunsalam also announced a long-term plan to market the Sabah SME products in Peninsular Malaysia.
He said the Department of Industrial Development and Research under his ministry is currently in talks with Segi Fresh, which has 56 outlets in Selangor and Perak.
“The marketing programme of the Sabah SME products to the marts in the peninsula will be launched this May,” he said.
Gunsalam also said that the ministry plans to approach GM Klang to market the local Sabah products there.
In responding to a question by Justin Wong (Sri Tanjong-Independent) on whether the ministry plans to open a shop to sell Sabah products at the state’s entry points like the Kota Kinabalu International Airport (KKIA), he said talks have been initiated since three years back with Malaysia Airport Bhd to open an outlet there.
“It was hard to obtain an outlet at the KKIA. Still, we will still continue with this,” he said.
However, Gunsalam noted that MAB will be organising a Ramadan Expo from April 2 to May 2, where 33 exhibition spots will involve 60 SMEs.
Earlier, the Kundasang assemblyman said the value of foreign direct investments (FDI) to Sabah last year amounting to RM4.37 billion was much higher than RM11.5 million in 2020.
“South Korea’s SK Nexilis Malaysia Sdn Bhd contributed to the higher FDIs with an investment of RM4.2 billion,” he said.
“This is the largest (individual) investment value the state has received to date,” he said. – The Vibes, March 23, 2022
