Kota Kinabalu: Sabah businesses must strengthen their capabilities and readiness to participate in the State’s economic growth as new investments and development opportunities continue to emerge, said Deputy Chief Minister III Datuk Ewon Benedick.
He said Sabah’s vast resources and economic potential must be translated into stronger industries, competitive local businesses, quality employment and greater economic opportunities for the people.
This was particularly important across key sectors including agriculture, tourism, manufacturing, oil and gas, natural resources, logistics, transportation and entrepreneurship, he added.
“Sabah is blessed with tremendous resources and opportunities, but we must also recognise that potential alone will not create prosperity unless we are able to translate it into stronger industries, competitive businesses, quality employment and greater economic opportunities for our people,” he said.
Ewon, who is also Industrial Development, Entrepreneurship and Transport Minister, said one of his ministry’s key priorities was ensuring more Sabah businesses could participate meaningfully in the State’s economic growth.
He said small and medium enterprises should be strengthened, while local entrepreneurs and companies should be supported to expand and develop the capabilities and confidence to compete at national, regional and international levels.
“This is also consistent with our Sabah First approach, where we want Sabah businesses and entrepreneurs to be given greater opportunities to participate in and benefit from the State’s development,” he said when delivering his special remarks at CEO Masterclass 2026 at Sabah International Convention Centre (SICC) here Tuesday.
Ewon said as the State’s economy expanded and new investments entered Sabah, local businesses must be prepared to become part of the supply chain, develop the necessary capabilities and take advantage of opportunities created by such growth.
He stressed that Sabah would continue to welcome quality investments, but their success should not be measured solely by monetary value.
“More importantly, investments should generate wider economic spill-overs by creating business opportunities for local companies, strengthening our domestic supply chains, developing local talent, facilitating technology and knowledge transfer, and creating quality employment opportunities for Sabahans,” he said.
Ewon said the State Government had an important role in creating a conducive environment for business growth and investment through appropriate policies, infrastructure, connectivity, facilitation and other forms of support.
However, he said the Government could not build Sabah’s future economy alone, making strong participation by the private sector, particularly CEOs, entrepreneurs and industry leaders, essential.
“Our collective responsibility should be to build stronger Sabah companies, create more quality employment and business opportunities for Sabahans, develop our local talent and strengthen the capabilities of our entrepreneurs so that more Sabah businesses are able to compete beyond our borders,” he said.
Ewon said closer collaboration between the Government, private sector, industry and entrepreneurial community would help build a stronger, more competitive and resilient Sabah economy.
