Strive for export value, says Tan
Published on: Thursday, May 05, 2016
Kota Kinabalu: Small and medium entrepreneurs in Sabah can only boast having great products if they have export value.Industrial Development Minister Datuk Raymond Tan said it is not impossible on condition that they must match product quality and standards."We want our products to be not just good for us but also good enough in Singapore, Hong Kong or China. ADVERTISEMENT The challenge would be how to get that standard so people in other places will look at the products and say it's what we want," he said on Tuesday.He noted that some of Sabah's products have penetrated the international market and urged the SMEs including micro enterprises to set their sight on the same goal.He also urged the SMEs not to be unduly worried about the Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement (TPPA) for contrary to some unbridled fears, the trade agreement in fact can open up a sea of opportunities and vast markets."The TPPA will do no harm to SMEs. It means no one can tell us that our products can't be sold to other places. ADVERTISEMENT In Sabah we have a small population of 3 million and if somebody offers a 30 million population to sell our products, what's wrong with that. With the TPPAS our products can end up in New York or Los Angeles. But the challenge is to get the standards so the people in those places will want the products," he said when launching the SIRIM – Industry Engagement programme on Tuesday.He reiterated that the direction of the government has always been wanting the business community to boost productivity and one of the ways is to build up the downstream industries as a smart way of utilizing the State's rich resources.
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He said the game plan has shifted where the State Government sees a massive benefits especially in terms of life-changing opportunities for as many people from building such industries instead of merely going out making a quick buck from anything the market has to offer.Tan, who is also the Deputy Chief Minister, said the development of the downstream industries go hand in hand with the creation of job opportunities for the people and hoped this would be attractive enough to get those who have the relevant industry skills to return to Sabah."When you build the industry and start the factories running, it gives you good jobs. You see your children coming back because there's something to do and there's technology to be applied. There's nothing wrong for people to look for better pay elsewhere. But we want to tell them that we have those better jobs that they want (in Sabah). It can only be done when we go downstream and get start those industries and we want everybody to be involved," he said.He stressed that inclusiveness where as many people get to have the chance for a better life including from well-paid jobs is one of the key aims of the Prime Minister's new economic model. The others are sustainability and innovation."What's the use when only a few people can benefit but the rest of the majority doesn't," he said.He cited the Sabah Ammonia Urea (SAMUR) project in Sipitang as an example of how benefits can be shared all the way down to the grassroots. "When u go to Sipitang you'll see the Samur. It took us six to get the plant up. People say, so what's the big deal. If we don't have the plant our gas goes straight to somebody else. But at least we take some of the gas and produce something, ammonia then urea. And they tell me you can go further down to the derivatives," he said.Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express’s Telegram channel.
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Tan said a whole world of other opportunities also open up to the people who could go into food business to feed thousands of workers who come to work there or any kind of economic activities.He believed opportunities are endless for Sabah in the downstream sector but needs new ideas from entrepreneurs and their excitement to be part of the State's dash toward the year 2020.