Kota Belud industrial park master plan to be tabled to Sabah Cabinet

KOTA BELUD: The master plan for the proposed Kota Belud Industrial Park will be tabled to the Sabah Cabinet at an upcoming state executive council meeting, said Deputy Chief Minister III Datuk Ewon Benedick.

Ewon, who is also Industrial Development, Entrepreneurship and Transport Minister, said the move is in line with the state government’s earlier announcement to develop new industrial parks in Kota Belud and Kudat to strengthen Sabah’s economic growth.

He said the development of the Kota Belud Industrial Park would be undertaken by Kota Kinabalu Industrial Park (KKIP), an agency under his ministry.

“As the agency mandated to implement this industrial park, we will table the Cabinet paper and I am confident the Chief Minister and members of the Cabinet will support the proposal, enabling us to begin marketing efforts and attract investors,” he said.

He was speaking after attending a Hari Raya open house at Kampung Tegudon here recently.

Ewon, who is also Kadamaian assemblyman, said the state government would engage with major companies, both domestic and international, to encourage them to consider investing and establishing operations in the industrial park.

“As one of the assemblymen in Kota Belud, this is a matter of pride as it will create economic opportunities for the local community, whether for existing entrepreneurs to participate in service chains or for graduates to secure employment with companies operating in the industrial park,” he said.

He added that he would lead trade missions abroad and accompany the Chief Minister, particularly to China, to meet potential investors.

The initiative, he said, would be implemented in collaboration with state and federal agencies to strengthen Sabah’s economy, create job opportunities for graduates and open up participation for local micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in industrial service chains.

Ewon said about 13,000 acres had been identified for the development, which would be carried out in phases subject to Cabinet approval.

He said the proposed site is located within the Pintasan state constituency, bordering Kota Marudu and Kota Belud districts and near the Kota Belud coastline.

“Hopefully, it will receive support from the local community as the time has come for Kota Belud to have a larger economic driver such as an industrial park, beyond the existing town centre,” he said.