Sabah is set to embark on a new era of economic development, according to Deputy chief Minister III Datuk Ewon Benedick.
Unveiling a strategic three-pronged approach, he said the move is aimed at bolstering the state’s entrepreneurial landscape.
As the Sabah Minister of Industry, Entrepreneurship and Transport, Ewon pledged to transform the state’s economy by fostering an investor-friendly environment, elevating product standards, and enhancing service quality.
These crucial priorities were articulated during his inaugural briefing with Assistant Minister Datuk Jonnybone J Kurum and key agency heads under the ministry, signaling a clear direction for Sabah’s economic future.
Ewon’s 3-core economic strategies for Sabah are :
1. Cultivating an Investor-Friendly Ecosystem:
The ministry is committed to establishing a dynamic and supportive environment that genuinely nurtures small and medium enterprises (SMEs), cooperatives, and small traders.
This involves not only attracting crucial investments, both local and international, but also ensuring a competitive landscape where businesses can thrive.
The focus will be on streamlining processes, reducing bureaucratic hurdles, and providing comprehensive support mechanisms to empower local entrepreneurs and make Sabah a prime destination for business development.
2. Elevating Product Standards and Quality:
Central to the “Sabah First” agenda, this strategy aims to significantly improve the quality and standards of all Sabah-made products.
By enhancing product excellence, the ministry intends to expand the market reach of local goods, both domestically and internationally.
This initiative is designed to instill greater pride among Sabahans in their local produce and crafts, ensuring they meet and exceed consumer expectations and global benchmarks.
3. Enhancing Overall Service Quality:
Recognizing that service excellence is paramount for a thriving economy, the ministry will dedicate efforts to upgrade the quality of services across all sectors.
This encompasses everything from public services to private sector offerings, ensuring that interactions are efficient, professional, and customer-centric.
Improved service quality is expected to boost consumer confidence, foster repeat business, and contribute to a more positive overall economic experience for residents and visitors alike.
Ewon emphasised that these three pillars form the bedrock of efforts to build greater pride among Sabahans in their local products and services, aligning the ministry’s performance with public expectations and state priorities.
Meanwhile, Assistant Minister Datuk Jonnybone J Kurum, who is also the Telupid assemblyman, reaffirmed his unwavering commitment to the ministry’s ambitious agenda.
He highlighted his particular focus on entrepreneurial development and the identification of untapped economic potential within rural districts, with a special emphasis on Telupid, one of Sabah’s areas requiring significant development.
Jonnybone pledged to leverage the trust placed in him to ensure an inclusive approach, strengthening the entrepreneurial ecosystem equitably across the entire state.
