Sabah Govt Committed To Ensure Conducive Investment Climate

KOTA KINABALU (Sabah,Malaysia), May 21 (Bernama) -- The Sabah government is committed to create a cordial and harmonious environment with chambers of commerce including the Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Industry in the state. Chief Minister Musa Aman said such good relations would ensure a conducive investment climate in the state, thereby enabling to attract more investments and assist in economic growth. He said many foreign investors are interested to invest in Sabah because of its political stability and conducive investment climate as well as good environmental policy. "Investors are amazed at how well we administer the state and because of that foreign investors have chosen to invest in the state," he said during a meeting with leaders of the Associated Chinese Chambers of Commerce and Industry of Malaysia (ACCCIM) led by its President, William Cheng, at Sri Gaya near here on Sunday. Citing the decision by Dole Food Co, the world's largest producer of fresh fruits and vegetables based in the United States (US), to invest more than RM1 billion (US$319.3 million) in Sabah, Musa, who is also Sabah finance minister, said the huge investments would help generate the state's economy while also creating job opportunities for local residents. He said in March this year, Darden, a Fortune 500 company from the US, has also announced it will invest some RM2 billion (US$638.6 million) to develop a red lobster farm off the east coast of Sabah. Speaking to reporters later, Musa said the meeting was a good effort to further strengthen the understanding and cooperation between the state government and chambers of commerce. "This (meeting) is our way to understand their need. I believe they want a stable political environment so that businesses can carry on smoothly. "Besides that they always help the Chinese schools and temples. Such practices should be nurtured for mutual benefits," he said. Musa believed through such visits, all leaders of Chinese businesses in the country will be able to exchange views and ideas on how to progress and succeed. "We are able to discuss on how to improve and expand businesses throughout Malaysia so that the vast opportunities are open to all including the Chinese, Malays, Indians and Bumiputeras in the state. "What is important is we are able to cooperate with the National Front (Barisan Nasional-BN) government. Besides that we have also created a good understanding and communication between the state and business chambers so as to be able to understand one another," he said. "The government has always given its support to the Chinese Chamber of Commerce and other business chambers so that we can create a conducive condition for foreign investors to invest in the country especially in Sabah," he said. -- BERNAMA