SANDAKAN: The Aquagro Fiesta 2026 (AGF'26) organised by Sandakan Polytechnic serves as a crucial platform uniting educational institutions, agriculture and fisheries agencies, and industry players to advance Sabah’s aquaculture and blue economy sectors, said Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Sabah and Sarawak) Datuk Mustapha Sakmud.
He highlighted the state’s vast blue economy potential in ocean thermal energy generation, unmapped aquaculture species in Sandakan and Tawau, and marine mineral resources, urging the Higher Education Ministry and polytechnics to align local talent development with these emerging industrial demands.
Addressing potential governance challenges, Mustapha stressed that Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63) jurisdictional aspects must be proactively addressed through joint technical committees to prevent state-federal disputes, drawing lessons from past oil and gas issues while ensuring alignment with Sabah Maju Jaya input and existing laws.
In another development, he expressed gratitude to the Higher Education Ministry and its Minister Datuk Seri Zambry Abdul Kadir for resolving the Kota Belud Polytechnic project’s land ownership and compensation issues, paving the way for its upcoming implementation.
Sandakan Polytechnic director Mohd Sahran @ Awang Mohidin noted that the event—organised by the Centre of Aquaculture Technology alongside internal polytechnic units—drives the revolution of the Tvet ecosystem by bridging academia and industry through the Tvet Collaboration Hub aspirations.
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