Kota Kinabalu: Sabah’s recent trade mission to South Korea has begun yielding commercial results, with several international buyers placing orders for locally made products following meetings with local companies at Expo Seoul 2026, Minister of Industrial Development, Entrepreneurship and Transport (Mindet) Datuk Ewon Benedick said.
The mission, which took place last week, saw eight Sabah-based companies participate in the international trade exhibition as part of the state’s broader strategy to expand export markets and strengthen Sabah’s presence in the region.
Ewon, who is also Deputy Chief Minister III, said the participating companies were introduced to international buyers seeking products from Sabah. Initial feedback from the companies indicates that the mission has translated into tangible business opportunities, with orders already being placed for products to be marketed in South Korea and other international markets.
“The response from buyers has been encouraging. Several Sabah companies have informed us that discussions held during the expo have resulted in product orders and follow-up engagements with potential business partners,” he said during the launch of Sabah SME Fest.
Beyond export promotion, the trade mission also focused on attracting foreign investment to Sabah. During the visit, the Sabah delegation held meetings with four South Korean companies to present investment opportunities in the state.
One company has since agreed to undertake a technical feasibility study and preliminary planning for a manufacturing facility in Sabah. Representatives from the company are expected to visit the state in August to assess potential locations and industrial sites.
Three other firms have expressed interest in Sabah and requested additional economic and industrial data to support their internal evaluations before making investment decisions.
Ewon described the mission as a successful step in Sabah’s efforts to strengthen economic ties with South Korea, noting that the benefits extended beyond immediate export opportunities.
“This mission was not only about promoting Sabah products. It was also about introducing Sabah as a competitive destination for investment and manufacturing,” he said.
The State government plans to continue engaging with interested investors and facilitate discussions to convert expressions of interest into concrete investment projects.
The Korea mission forms part of Sabah’s wider international economic outreach programme, which will continue with the Sabah Business Forum in Singapore this August. The forum is expected to bring together multinational corporations, investors and industry leaders to explore business and investment opportunities in the state.
He said he hoped the combination of export promotion, trade networking and investment facilitation would help position Sabah as a more prominent player in regional supply chains while creating new opportunities for local businesses to expand overseas.
