Kota Kinabalu: The State Cabinet has approved the establishment of three new industrial parks, aimed at attracting investment, creating employment opportunities and driving economic growth in the State.
State Industrial Development and Entrepreneurship Minister Datuk Phoong Jin Zhe announced the decision on Wednesday after the weekly State Cabinet meeting, stating that the initiative aligns with the State’s broader economic strategy.
AdvertisementThe first would be the Blue Economy Industrial Park in Kudat covering 3,000 to 4,000 acres, with 1,200 acres under the Sabah Economic Development Corporation (Sedco).
The project, inspired by the Chief Minister, is designed to integrate local communities into the industrial ecosystem.
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Preparations are underway, with potential investors already visiting the site in recent months.
Advertisement“Kudat is one of the poorest districts in Malaysia. We aim to bring industrialisation and economic progress here, just as we successfully did in KKIP, where young Sabahan talents have returned from overseas to work in manufacturing plants,” he said.
The second project, the Integrated Industrial Park in Kota Belud, was first announced last year and has since received Cabinet approval.
Advertisement (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});The 13,000-acre site will be developed by KKIP Sdn Bhd and will adopt a “plug-and-play” concept, providing ready infrastructure such as water and electricity supply.
“This will streamline industrial operations and encourage both local and foreign investors. The demand for industrial land has been increasing, with existing parks nearing full capacity,” Phoong said.
The third involves the relocation of the proposed Kimanis Industrial Park to Beaufort.
Initially announced alongside Kota Belud’s park, the Kimanis site was deemed unsuitable due to the complexities of land acquisition.
“The decision to relocate was made to ensure feasibility and avoid land acquisition challenges similar to those faced in the Pan Borneo Highway project,” Phoong said.
The Beaufort Industrial Park, covering 4,000 acres, will be overseen by the Sabah Oil and Gas Development Corporation (SOGDC).
“These three industrial parks will be a game-changer for Sabah’s economy. We have seen strong investor interest, especially from international players.
“With these projects, we can attract more investments, build more factories and create high-value, well-paying jobs for young Sabahans.”
The next step involves the completion of master plans for all three sites, managed by Sedco for Kudat, KKIP for Kota Belud and SOGDC for Beaufort.
“We aim to complete the master plans this year and launch the projects simultaneously,” he said.
