News From : DagangHalal.com (15 Nov 2009)
Kota Kinabalu: Sabah has strong potential to become another international business capital, according to Brunei’s Industry and Primary Resources Ministry’s project officer, Pg Hamrondiny Pg Tajuddin.
He said Sabah’s location in the middle of Asean, its environment, culture and natural beauties were the main factors to potentially become a successful international business centre.
Hamrondiny was speaking to Daily Express during the Borneo International Trade Fair (BITF) 2009, held at the Kota Kinabalu Sports Complex from Nov 13-16.
Looking at the potential of Sabah as an international hub, he said, his Ministry was hoping to take advantage of the situation and capitalise on Sabah to springboard its market to the rest of the world.
“We consider Sabah and Sarawak as domestic markets as we share the same culture and business practices. To penetrate 5 per cent of the Sabah market alone would be a huge achievement for our SMEs as the population in Sabah is much more than that of Brunei,” he said.
Brunei is one of the International participants in the BITF 2009 along with China, Thailand and Indonesia.
Hundreds of visitors and businessmen flocked to the event which started on Friday, where booths of various goods and services from toys to government agencies have been set up.
The trade fair showcases the Government’s ongoing efforts in the implementation of the Sabah Development Corridor (SDC) as a thrust to spur investments and developments in the agriculture, tourism, logistic services and manufacturing sectors.