Kota Kinabalu: Local professionals were introduced to lucrative export opportunities through the Services Export Fund (SEF) during a briefing hosted by the Institution of Engineers Malaysia (IEM) Sabah Branch and the Malaysia External Trade Development Corporation (MATRADE) Sabah.
The initiative, held at the IEM Sabah secretariat in Damai, here, spearheaded by IEM Sabah Vice Chairman I Tan KJ, attracted participation from professional associations including the Small and Medium Enterprises Association (SME) Sabah and Sabah Builders Association (SBA).
Tan said IEM Sabah is more than a professional body, describing it as a bridge linking engineers and industry players to new opportunities that ensures members stay informed about government initiatives supporting global expansion.
MATRADE Sabah Director Haikal Hanib pointed out the fund’s potential to help local service providers break into international markets, particularly in Asean, the Middle East and Africa.
“Professional services such as engineering, consultancy, ICT and construction from Sabah have strong export potential,” he said, describing SEF as a tool to reduce financial barriers for companies entering global trade.
The session included virtual participation from MATRADE headquarters, where Farhana from the MDG Unit provided detailed guidance on funding criteria, application procedures and shared success stories of Malaysian firms that secured overseas projects with SEF assistance.
The briefing included networking discussions among participants, who agreed to explore collaborative efforts to enhance Sabah’s export readiness across professional services sectors.
