By Olivia Miwil - November 13, 2020 @ 11:19am
KOTA KINABALU: Sabah stands to benefit from the 2021 Budget particularly on high technology, infrastructure and empowerment funds, said its deputy Chief Minister Datuk Dr Joachim Gunsalam.
Referring to the RM1.5 billion High Technology Fund for industrialisation, he said the government wants to make Malaysia a destination for high-value economic activities.
"I see this as an avenue for Sabah to push our potential development in higher value-added industries especially biochemical.
"In addition, the grants to assist Small to Medium Enterprises (SME) to digitalise and automise coupled with the RM1.2 billion micro credit schemes would surely help them," he said in a statement.
Joachim, who is also the state Industrial Development minister, said the 2021 Budget provides RM100 million and an additional RM42 million for improving internet connectivity.
He added that such infrastructure development is relevant to industrial parks in Sabah such as the Palm Oil Industrial Culture (POIC) in Lahad Datu which has been seeking funds to upgrade its roads and other infrastructures.
Meanwhile, the Kundasang assemblyman added that the authorities should speed up in identifying target groups eligible for the macro allocation from RM11.2 billion meant to narrow the disparity gap, RM4.6 billion to empower Bumiputera entrepreneurs and RM95 million micro credit scheme for Bumiputera women entrepreneurs.
"These figures are all macro allocations. It is up to the officials to quickly identify the target groups who qualify for the funds and help them to access them."
The Minister added that the training programmes to enhance locally manufactured products and the RM35 million to promote locally made products will augur well for the state.
"It is pertinent for Sabah to capitalise on these initiatives to encourage more production and sale of the state's locally made products such as traditional handicrafts and local foods."
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