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Kota Kinabalu: Sabah is on the right track to becoming the region’s leading deep-sea fishing hub, thanks to its various strategic advantages, said Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor.

According to him, the State is not only located along the international tuna migration route but also boasts sheltered natural harbours and proximity to major producers such as Indonesia, the Philippines and Papua New Guinea.

“We possess all the prerequisites, in terms of location, resources, infrastructure and policy support, to drive Sabah as a centre for the landing, processing and export of deep-sea fishery products at international standards,” he said during the signing ceremony of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between City Hall (DBKK) and Petco Trading Labuan Company Ltd, as well as a Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) between DBKK and Alpha Ocean Resources Berhad (AORB) at Pacific Sutera Hotel, Wednesday.

Hajiji said under the MoA, AORB will invest RM360 million to develop a European Union (EU)-standard port in Kota Kinabalu, specifically for the landing of tuna and other deep-sea fishery products.

He said the project is expected to be completed within 18 months and will create over 1,000 jobs across the industry value chain.

“This port will comply with the EU’s strict standards, including Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points (HACCP), traceability systems, monitoring of Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated (IUU) fishing and comprehensive food safety requirements.

“With this facility, we will be able to tap into premium export markets, which have so far remained inaccessible due to the lack of suitable infrastructure,” he stressed.

He said Malaysia’s participation in the Western & Central Pacific Fisheries Commission (WCPFC) will enable the new port to serve as an authorised landing base for registered fishing vessels from around the world.

“With projections of 1,000 vessels a year, each carrying an average of 50 tonnes of catch, Sabah has the potential to land 50,000 tonnes of tuna annually, generating an estimated RM1.8 billion in economic value,” he said.

He added that the economic benefits will not be limited to the catch alone, but will extend to various supporting sectors such as ice supply, bunkering services, food and beverage and technical services.

At the same time, Hajiji emphasised that the development of this industry will not overlook the welfare of local fishing communities. 

An inclusive development model will ensure the participation of coastal fishermen in downstream value-added activities.

“We will continue to uphold sustainable environmental, social and governance (ESG) practices – protecting the environment, communities and governance – to ensure the continuity of marine ecosystems and the economic wellbeing of our people,” he said.

At the same event, DBKK also signed a MoU with Petco Trading Labuan Company Ltd to develop a biogas energy complex at Kayu Madang landfill site.

The project will convert methane gas from solid waste into two megawatts of green electricity.

“This energy will directly benefit the manufacturing sector at Kota Kinabalu Industrial Park (KKIP). It is a prime example of a circular economy approach, where waste from one sector becomes an energy source for another,” he said.

Hajiji said both initiatives align with Sabah Blue Economy agenda, which emphasises sustainable development, value addition in the fisheries industry and the transition to clean energy.

“The successful attraction of these investments reflects strong investor confidence in Sabah’s economic prospects. I am confident that the synergy between DBKK, the private sector and the State Government will accelerate economic growth and create more job opportunities for the people,” he said.

He also expressed appreciation to DBKK for its ongoing efforts in driving city development and to both companies for choosing Sabah as their strategic investment destination.