KOTA KINABALU – The ongoing Sepanggar Bay Container Port expansion in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah will help boost Sabah’s position as an economic and trade gateway to East Asia, said Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Sabah and Sarawak Affairs) Datuk Seri Maximus Ongkili.
Ongkili said Sabah has great potential to be the main gateway for trade, focusing mostly on Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Philippines – collectively known as the East Asean Growth Area (BIMP-EAGA) region.
He said this was made possible by the ongoing expansion of the Sepanggar Bay Container Port, a project approved by the previous government in 2016, costing RM1.03 billion.
Expressing his satisfaction with the project, Ongkili said the existing ongoing port services and the businesses it offered would also help propel the state’s economy.
“I am also satisfied with the progress of the ongoing expansion project, which is under the purview of Sedia (Sabah Economic Development and Investment Authority),” he said.
The project is funded by the federal government and is expected to be completed in 2024.
“The project meets the regional requirements and adheres to green and sustainability concerns,” said Ongkili after visiting the port yesterday.
He also acknowledged the efforts by Sabah Port Sdn Bhd (SPSB) and its strategic role to strengthen the industry.
He said SPSB has spent close to RM1 billion to upgrade port facilities and equipment since the takeover and has done an impressive job as an industry leader, creating more economic growth and job opportunities for locals in Sabah.
Ongkili added that he, together with Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Economic Affairs) Datuk Seri Mustapa Mohamed, jointly oversees Sedia, a Sabah state corridor agency fully funded by the federal government.
During the visit, he was briefed by SPSB managing director Datuk Ng Kiat Min and Sedia vice-president Chong Vun Leong on its current operations and status.
Ongkili affirms his commitment to support Sabah Port’s initiative in positioning the Sepanggar Bay Container Port as a regional transshipment hub as well as the main gateway for the larger BIMP-EAGA, Intra Asia, as well as the fast-growing markets in China, Korea, and Japan. – The Vibes, February 16, 2021
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