Sabah China Chamber of Commerce cooperates with Jilin federation

KOTA KINABALU (Aug 26): The Sabah China Chamber of Commerce (SCCC) signed a strategic cooperation memorandum with the Jilin Provincial Federation of Chambers of Commerce on Sunday to explore trade and investment opportunities and expand business prospects.

The signing ceremony was represented by SCCC President Datuk Frankie Liew and Jilin Provincial Federation of Chambers of Commerce President Liew Shangyuan. Attendees included SCCC Deputy President Brett Chua, Vice President Datuk Jonathan Koh, JP, Vice President and Chairman of the Young Entrepreneurs Committee, Chiew HH, Public Relations Officer Datuk Simon Teoh, Jilin Provincial Foreign Affairs Office Director Yang Li, Jilin Provincial Federation of Chambers of Commerce Advisor Sheng Xikui, host Meng Qingyu, and Chen Pengyu, head of the Sabah-Jilin Liaison Office.

In his speech during the signing ceremony, Frankie emphasized that the SCCC, established on February 28, 2019, is an association that unites various business organizations in Sabah. Its aim is to serve as a communication bridge between the Sabah government and governments and private sectors of various provinces and cities in China. The Chamber seeks to create an international cooperation platform that offers precise and reliable information, enabling members to find partners or investment projects globally.

He noted that after days of intensive and fruitful exchanges, visits and inspections, the delegation has gained a preliminary understanding of Sabah’s key economic and trade development landscape.

He assured that the SCCC is ready to provide further assistance if more information or details are needed.

“The SCCC is the only business association in Sabah that specializes in connecting with China. While we also establish cooperative relationships with government agencies, enterprises and business associations in ASEAN countries, our primary focus is on serving the trade interests between China and Sabah,” he stated.

Frankie highlighted that the SCCC’s core members come from various sectors in Sabah, including real estate, plantation, aquaculture, livestock, agriculture, tourism, hospitality, catering, retail, timber, building materials, media, education, e-commerce and cultural industries.

“SCCC also maintains cooperative relationships with Invest Sabah Bhd, Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries and Sabah Lands and Surveys Department. We can assist in coordinating industrial projects, sourcing arable land, or facilitating agricultural technology and capacity transfer. Currently, Sabah is rich in tropical fruits like bananas, durians, avocados, pineapples and coconuts. As long as there are sufficient markets and distribution channels, we can arrange for large-scale production and supply of fresh fruits or processed downstream products. Sabah’s climate and soil are ideal for cultivating various fruits and herbal plants, and by leveraging Jilin’s and Northeast China’s advanced agricultural and research technologies, we can find synergies to promote greater investment cooperation in agriculture, food and herbal industries.”

Frankie acknowledged that while Sabah’s market is relatively small, its strategic location in Southeast Asia, close proximity to China, and extensive direct connections with China provide significant advantages. Sabah is home to Malaysia’s second-largest international airport and spans 76,115 square kilometers with 1,440 kilometers of coastline. Rich in natural resources, Sabah is strategically positioned near the resource-rich Philippines and Indonesia, whose new capital, Nusantara, presents significant development opportunities for Sabah. Sabah also maintains friendly relations with Brunei, a major oil producer. Therefore, Sabah serves as an ideal entry point for Chinese enterprises seeking to expand into ASEAN markets. The SCCC is prepared to collaborate with partners to promote economic development and strengthen friendships between Sabah, Jilin Province, and the broader ASEAN region.

Frankie expressed his hope that the SCCC’s valuable connections with China will result in the establishment of more cooperative partnerships and the signing of more memorandums of understanding.

Moving forward, the SCCC plans to continue expanding its relationships with various provinces and cities in China, with the goal of establishing liaison offices in key locations, appointing reliable local partners, and enhancing bilateral trade and investment.

“We will also continue to share our network of connections and information, ensuring that each partner receives accurate and timely information when needed, facilitating direct connections without wasting time, energy, or valuable resources. Our aim is to ensure that every investment project related to Sabah is implemented as quickly as possible.”

Frankie emphasized that the SCCC seeks to assist the Sabah government and the Chinese government in implementing pro-business policies and creating a favorable environment for investment. At the same time, it strives to find investment opportunities and conveniences for its members and partners.

“Sabah is a resource-rich, secure, and strategically located region that serves as a gateway to both ASEAN, with its 600 million population, and China, creating a vast market of two billion people. Investing in Sabah is equivalent to establishing a foothold in both China and ASEAN, unlocking a market worth trillions of dollars. We hope that our Chinese partners will bring their technology, capital and production capacity to Sabah, achieving mutual benefit and shared prosperity while promoting economic development in Sabah, China, and the region.”

He concluded his speech by inviting everyone to share their thoughts and valuable insights.

Frankie also introduced Sabah’s scenic attractions, noting that Sabah is located just south of the typhoon belt in the Northern Hemisphere, earning it the nickname “Land Below the Wind.”

Sabah is an island surrounded by sea on three sides, with the northeast facing the Philippines and the Sulu Sea, the southeast facing Indonesia’s Sulawesi and Kalimantan, and the southwest bordering Brunei and Sarawak.

The state is home to Southeast Asia’s highest peak, Mount Kinabalu, which stands at 4,095 meters. Sabah is also home to 32 officially recognized indigenous groups, 82 Chinese national-type primary schools, five Chinese national-type secondary schools, and nine independent Chinese secondary schools.

Sabah’s top ten tourist attractions include: Kinabalu National Park and Tunku Abdul Rahman Park in Kota Kinabalu, Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre in Sandakan, Gomantong Caves and Selingan Turtle Island in Sandakan, the world-renowned Semporna Islands, Sipadan and Mabul Islands famous for diving,

Tabin Wildlife Reserve, Tanjung Aru Beach in Kota Kinabalu, known for its sunset, which has been ranked among the top three sunset spots globally.

Frankie emphasized that Sabah has had economic ties with China since the sixth century, as evidenced by various artifacts displayed at the Sabah Museum. Chinese traders historically visited the state to purchase spices, timber and bird’s nests.

This year also marks the 50th anniversary of Malaysia-China diplomatic relations. The Sabah State Government will host the inaugural Sabah China Expo and Sabah China Business Summit from November 22-24, 2024 at the Sabah International Convention Centre (SICC), Kota Kinabalu.

For this important event, the SCCC is being appointed as one of the co-organizers.

Frankie hopes to meet the partners again at this event and extends a warm welcome to everyone to visit Sabah and reconnect.

The SCCC delegation also visited Changchun Chengkai Agriculture and Animal Husbandry Development Co., Ltd. to learn about agricultural and livestock development and production processes, and they observed the cattle slaughtering process at the company’s beef processing plant.

Changchun Chengkai Agriculture and Animal Husbandry Development Co., Ltd. is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Changchun Chengkai Agricultural Investment. It was established in November 2020.