Sabah young entrepreneurs gain global exposure

KOTA KINABALU (March 15): The Sabah China Chamber of Commerce Young Entrepreneurs Committee (SCCC YE) organized a Guangzhou–Jiangmen Business Exchange Trip to China from March 3 to March 9.

With the theme “Industry Exchange, On-site Visits and Business Matching,” the trip included company visits, knowledge-sharing sessions and first-hand observation of local industrial developments. The program not only broadened the international outlook of participating entrepreneurs but also opened up new possibilities for future business growth and collaboration.

The delegation was led by Sabah China Chamber of Commerce Vice President Chiew Heng Hock and SCCC YE Chairman Hong Jia Hao, together with young entrepreneurs from various industries.

During the visit, the delegation toured several enterprises and held in-depth discussions with local entrepreneurs. Through these engagements, participants gained valuable insights into China’s advancements in industrial upgrading, technological applications and corporate management practices, while also participating in various business networking and industry matching activities.

Notably, this Guangzhou–Jiangmen trip marked Hong’s first overseas delegation since assuming the chairmanship of SCCC Young Entrepreneurs.

He emphasized that young entrepreneurs are an important driving force for future economic development, expressing hope that such exchange programs will encourage more young business leaders to explore global markets, understand industry trends and broaden their international perspectives. At the same time, these initiatives also serve as a platform to create wider collaboration opportunities between businesses in Sabah and China.

Hong added that Chinese enterprises have demonstrated remarkable strengths in technology adoption, resource integration and corporate alliances, experiences that Sabah businesses can learn from. Moving forward, SCCC YE hopes to organize more similar exchange programs to strengthen ties between Sabah and China enterprises and create more opportunities for collaboration.

In addition to enterprise visits and industry exchanges, the delegation also visited the Kaiping Zili Village World Cultural Heritage Site in Jiangmen as part of a cultural learning tour.

Through exploring the well-preserved Diaolou (watchtower) architecture, members gained deeper insights into the history of overseas Chinese communities and the unique architectural heritage that blends Chinese and Western influences.

The visit also enabled participants to better appreciate the historical contributions of overseas Chinese who returned to their hometowns to build and develop their communities after years of working abroad. From the perspectives of architecture, culture and social development, the delegation reflected on the relationship between history, culture and economic development, gaining fresh inspiration for future cultural exchange initiatives.

During the trip, several entrepreneurs shared their observations and reflections.

Alan Wong Bak Wei, publicity coordinator of the Guangzhou–Jiangmen business trip, said the visit deepened his understanding of China’s corporate development and highlighted the importance of collaboration between enterprises. He noted that many Chinese companies are actively integrating artificial intelligence (AI) into their operations and management systems, significantly improving efficiency.

Douglas Fong Yin Tshung, SCCC Business Affairs Director and head of Deli Enterprises Sdn Bhd, said the Jiangmen visit allowed him to experience the region’s industrial strengths and mature business environment while successfully connecting with valuable industry resources.

Loo Li Liang from Syarikat Pengangkutan Maju said the trip allowed her to meet many outstanding entrepreneurs and expand her professional network, providing deeper insight into industry trends and potential collaboration opportunities.

Elaine Chen Nyuk Lian, head of JL Longmai Resource Sdn Bhd, shared her observations from a corporate culture perspective. She noted that corporate culture is not merely about systems or management structures but reflects the values of an organization, and that the vision of a company’s leadership often determines its future direction.

Liew Yui Shing (Mec), founder of The Eventalist, said visiting different companies helped her better understand corporate systems, organizational structures and the importance of corporate culture. She added that successful business management requires tolerance, patience, humility and responsibility.

Chia Yi En Zoey, a Gen Z representative from Café De Vie, noted that during visits to companies in sectors such as ceramics, hardware and manufacturing, she observed how many traditional industries have already adopted systematic management and artificial intelligence technologies, highlighting how technology is transforming industries.

Luke Liew Kit Siong, head of Sri Tepat Jadi Glass Aluminium (M) Sdn Bhd, said the trip not only enabled him to connect with more entrepreneurs from Sabah but also allowed him to witness China’s strengths in supply chain integration and rapid product innovation.

Eva Lee Ming from AE Cynergy Solution said the trip exposed her to different business models and gave her the opportunity to meet many sincere and inspiring entrepreneurs. She believes business growth comes not only from hard work but also from continuous learning, comparison and exchange.

SCCC YE stated that the Guangzhou–Jiangmen business trip not only broadened the perspectives of participants but also strengthened networking among young entrepreneurs. The organization will continue to promote similar exchange programs to create platforms for industry collaboration, site visits and business matching, further strengthening cooperation between businesses in Sabah and China.