Sabah chamber explores cooperation with Hainan port

KOTA KINABALU (March 7): A delegation from the Sabah China Chamber of Commerce (SCCC) visited the Global Trade Window in Hainan, China after the Hainan Free Trade Port officially launched island-wide independent customs operation on December 18 last year.

During the visit last Friday, the delegates led by SCCC president Datuk Frankie Liew participated in a business exchange with representatives from the Hainan International Economic Development Bureau, the Haikou Meilan District Government, the Hainan Cross-Border E-Commerce Association, and related enterprises.

Liew shared Sabah’s industrial characteristics, resource advantages, and areas of cooperation.

He expressed hope to deepen collaboration with Hainan in fields such as tropical agriculture, green energy, cross-border e-commerce, and cultural tourism and trade.

He also welcomed official representatives from Hainan to visit Sabah for exchanges, site visits, and business matching, in order to jointly explore new opportunities for cooperation between Sabah and Hainan.

The event was organised by Hainan Free Trade Zone Global Trade Window Management Co Ltd.

Using economic and trade cooperation as a bridge, the programme aimed to accurately connect Chinese and Malaysian resources, assist Malaysian enterprises in expanding into the Hainan Free Trade Port, and support Chinese enterprises in exploring Asean markets, thereby further strengthening economic and trade connectivity between Hainan and Malaysia.

More than 20 government and business representatives from organisations including the Hainan International Economic Development Bureau Singapore Representative Office, the Haikou Meilan District Government Investment Promotion Centre, Global Trade Window, the Hainan Cross-Border E-Commerce Association, and the Sabah China Chamber of Commerce attended the exchange.

Discussions focused on the policy advantages of the Free Trade Port, opportunities for industrial collaboration, and two-way investment strategies, while exploring new pathways for Hainan–Malaysia cooperation.

The organisers also noted that Malaysia, as an important member of Asean, plays a key role in regional cooperation.

The visit by the Sabah China Chamber of Commerce delegation represents an important initiative in strengthening Hainan–Asean cooperation and demonstrates the shared commitment of government and business sectors in Hainan and Malaysia to seize opportunities presented by the Free Trade Port.

Looking ahead, the Hainan International Economic Development Bureau will continue to play its role as a bridge and connector, building platforms for international economic and trade exchanges, accurately linking high-quality Asean resources, optimising comprehensive investment services, and encouraging more Asean enterprises to establish a presence in Hainan.

These efforts aim to help Chinese enterprises expand into Asean markets and further deepen industrial cooperation and trade connectivity between Hainan and Malaysia, as well as between China and Asean.

The Hainan Free Trade Port is expected to become an important gateway for two-way investment and mutually beneficial cooperation between China and Asean.

During the discussion session, Tang Ying from the Singapore Representative Office of the Hainan International Economic Development Bureau introduced the current progress of independent customs operations at the Hainan Free Trade Port, highlighting key policy advantages and presenting priority industries and investment opportunities for future development in Hainan.

Guo Zihui, representative of the Haikou Meilan District Government Investment Promotion Centre, presented the region’s business environment and industrial development plans.

Zhang Yi, International Affairs Representative of Global Trade Window, introduced the platform’s comprehensive services in international trade facilitation, enterprise incubation, and cross-border resource matching.

Zhang Chunsheng, Secretary-General of the Hainan Cross-Border E-Commerce Association, provided professional recommendations on promoting coordinated development of the Hainan–Malaysia cross-border e-commerce industry, taking into account Sabah’s industrial strengths and the policy advantages of the Hainan Free Trade Port.

During the open networking session, government and business representatives engaged in in-depth discussions on cooperation models, project implementation, and resource integration.

The Hainan International Economic Development Bureau also provided detailed responses to questions raised by enterprises regarding policy support, project development, and cross-border cooperation.

The session served as a precise matching platform for further collaboration and injected new momentum into Hainan–Malaysia economic and trade cooperation.