KOTA KINABALU: The Sabah Industrial Development Ministry (MID) has formed a special task force to expedite all approvals needed for manufacturing projects.

Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Dr Joachim Gunsalam said the task force, consisting both state and federal ministries, departments and agencies, will provide the necessary assistance.

With that, he said the Sabah government through MID are inviting more local and foreign investors to expand their businesses in the state.

He said this during a forum on investment opportunities in Sabah industrial parks, jointly organised by MID with the Federation of Malaysian Manufacturers (FMM) at a hotel in Kuala Lumpur. 

Dr Joachim, who is also the state Industrial Development Minister, said the objective of the forum was to show local and foreign investors what Sabah has to offer.

There were various presentations given by Invest Sabah Bhd, Department of Industrial Development and Research (DIDR) and also from the industrial parks – Kota Kinabalu Industrial Park (KKIP), Palm Oil Industrial Cluster (POIC) Lahad Datu and Sipitang Oil and Gas Industrial Park (SOGIP).

He hoped the forum will prompt companies to set up further discussions with MID as well as the industrial parks' representatives on investing in Sabah.

Dr Joachim said the forum was part of efforts to promote Sabah as an investment destination as the state offers great advantages for investors to do business.

He said MID has also been tasked with propelling entrepreneurs from small-scale to international exporters.

To achieve the goal, he said MID will empower and strengthen the small and medium-sized entrepreneurs (SMEs) and facilitate financial assistance.

"It will also improve the product quality and performance capabilities through Industry 4.0 technology," he said.

Among those present included MID permanent secretary Thomas Logijin, Invest Sabah Bhd chief executive officer Datuk Madiyem Layapan, POIC Sabah Sdn Bhd chief executive officer Datuk Fredian Gan and DIDR director Tseu Kei Yue.