By Olivia Miwil
KOTA KINABALU: The Sabah government is considering training more local talent to support the growth of the high-technology industry at the new Kota Belud Industrial Park.
Sabah Industrial Development, Entrepreneurship and Transport permanent secretary Datuk Thomas Logijin said the semiconductor ecosystem generates significant value-added activities and has the potential to substantially increase Sabah's gross domestic product (GDP).
"However, during our recent visit to Taiwan with Kota Kinabalu Industrial Park, one message became clear: without talent, there is no way we can build a semiconductor industry.
"KKIP is now working with a Malaysian company based in Taiwan to identify and train local talent for this industry.
"Beyond semiconductor design, Sabah will also require many engineers, researchers and technical specialists," he said during a forum titled "Driving SMJ 2.0: Accelerating the Three Core Sectors for Sabah's RM100 Billion GDP Target", held in conjunction with Sankalpa Sabah 2030 at a conference venue here.
At present, Sabah has four established industrial parks: Kota Kinabalu Industrial Park (KKIP), *Sawit Kinabalu Sandakan Industrial Park (SKSIP), and Sipitang Oil and Gas Industrial Park (SOGIP).
The Kota Belud and Kudat Blue Economy industrial parks are the latest to be approved by the Sabah Cabinet, with KKIP appointed as the coordinator for the Kota Belud Industrial Park.
Thomas said the ministry aimed to introduce a true plug-and-play concept at the two new industrial parks, allowing investors to begin operations with all the necessary infrastructure, utilities, connectivity and support services already in place.
Apart from talent development and attracting local and foreign investment, he said downstream industries could generate greater economic value and create more high-paying jobs for Sabahans.
He cited solar glass manufactured from silica sand sourced in Kudat, which could be further processed into solar panels, while biomass from the palm oil industry could be developed into renewable energy products.
"If we establish the entire manufacturing ecosystem here, we will create high-quality jobs for future generations."
Last year, the manufacturing sector contributed about 7.2 per cent to Sabah's RM88.8 billion GDP.
"To achieve a RM100 billion GDP, the manufacturing sector must play a much more significant role.
"The vision of our ministry is to transform Sabah into an industrial state by 2040. It means manufacturing should contribute at least 25 per cent of Sabah's GDP.
"We are hoping in 10 years from now that the ministry can contribute RM40 billion to our GDP."
Thomas said he was optimistic the target could be achieved with several key infrastructure projects, including the completion of the Sabah Port expansion next year, which will increase its handling capacity to 1.25 million from the current 400 Twenty-foot Equivalent Units.
Others include additional oil and gas discoveries by Petronas to strengthen Sabah's long-term energy security, and the expected completion of the Pan Borneo Highway within the next two to three years.
Comments
Post a Comment