SCCC strengthens Sabah–China economic ties in Shanghai

KOTA KINABALU (Dec 9): The Sabah China Chamber of Commerce (SCCC) carried out a trade and investment mission to Shanghai, engaging with major Chinese enterprises and chambers to explore new opportunities aimed at strengthening long-term Sabah–China economic cooperation.

Led by SCCC president Datuk Frankie Liew, the delegation focused on key sectors such as agriculture, engineering and construction, tourism, and general trade.

Liew described the visit as highly productive, saying it enhanced Sabah’s understanding of Shanghai’s industrial strengths and revealed significant collaboration potential.

A major highlight was a visit to the Shanghai Engineering & Construction Industry Association, where Sabah delegates received insights into China’s advanced construction environment, cost-control mechanisms and regulatory frameworks.

Liew said these insights are highly relevant to Sabah’s infrastructure development ambitions.

Chinese stakeholders expressed strong interest in partnering with Sabah on industrial parks, township development, infrastructure upgrades and tourism facilities. Agriculture also emerged as a key area of cooperation, with Chinese firms exploring opportunities in food sourcing, processing, smart farming and supply chain partnerships.

Liew emphasised that Sabah’s biodiversity, agricultural resources and natural assets position it well to tap into the vast Chinese market.

Tourism players in Shanghai also showed interest in Sabah’s marine attractions, rainforests and cultural heritage, identifying joint marketing as a potential growth avenue.

During the mission, the SCCC delegation met with Shanghai Shengxun Transportation Co. Ltd, a major engineering, logistics and construction company, to discuss possible collaboration in Sabah’s infrastructure and industrial sectors. They also met Friendship International Trading, which expressed interest in expanding premium wine distribution into Sabah.

The delegation visited Shanghai’s Fengxian District, one of the municipality’s fastest-growing coastal new areas, to study its development model and explore cooperation in tourism, industry, agriculture and modern urban development.

Fengxian’s rapid transformation and innovation-driven growth impressed the Sabah delegates.

In Fengxian, the group toured towns and districts showcasing varied strengths — from commercial hubs to agricultural innovation zones — while learning about integrated planning, governance systems and ecological conservation.

The district’s “Eastern Beauty Valley” stood out as a national hub for beauty, health and bio-pharmaceutical industries.

The mission also examined Fengxian’s modern industrial clusters, smart farming technologies, eco-friendly rural development and efficient transport network. These features highlighted opportunities for Sabah in technology exchange, investment exploration and sustainable agricultural development.

Both Sabah and Fengxian representatives expressed strong interest in future cooperation in trade, tourism, high-tech industries, beauty and health sectors, and rural sustainability.

Liew said the Shanghai mission opened valuable channels for partnership and strengthened Sabah’s visibility in one of Asia’s leading economic centres.