Sabah: Sabah Oil and Gas Development Corporation (SOGDC) and SEDCO Mining Sdn Bhd have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to strengthen industrial development in the state, particularly in the Sabah Oil and Gas Industrial Park (SOGIP) and the Sawit Kinabalu Sandakan Industrial Park (SKSIP).
According to BERNAMA News Agency, Sabah Deputy Chief Minister III and Minister of Industrial Development, Entrepreneurship and Transport, Datuk Ewon Benedick, stated that the strategic collaboration between the two government-linked companies under his ministry is expected to attract more industrial investments to the areas. He emphasized that such collaborations facilitate better coordination and monitoring, especially concerning policy and regulatory matters, and strengthen teamwork aligned with the Sabah Maju Jaya 2.0 roadmap and the Sabah First vision.
The MoU was inked by SOGDC chief executive officer (CEO), Mohd Azmir Datuk Ramli, and SEDCO Mining CEO, Shamsul Bahri Johari, with Ewon as a witness. Ewon highlighted that the collaboration is a significant step in fortifying strategic ties between the two state entities, which are crucial in driving Sabah's economic development.
Ewon further explained that Sabah's economic development requires an integrated approach, with state development agencies collaborating to optimize resource potential and investment opportunities. When development agencies operate within the same ecosystem and share aligned development goals, project planning and implementation can be conducted more efficiently.
The collaboration is set to open up opportunities for more comprehensive development in SOGIP, one of Sabah's key strategic industrial hubs. Improvements in industrial infrastructure, ports, and logistics capacity are expected to create more investment opportunities, stimulate economic growth, and generate employment opportunities for Sabahans.
Ewon concluded by stating that the ultimate goal is to ensure Sabah's economy continues to grow, boost investments, and enable Sabahans to benefit directly through job opportunities, industrial development, and improved economic well-being.