Kota Kinabalu: Sabah is wooing investors with concrete policies and strong environmental credentials under the Sabah Maju Jaya 2.0 plan to attract responsible, long-term investments in its ocean resources.
“The State Government has put in place governance structures, passed laws and created financing options to turn policy promises into real results,” said SMJ Secretariat Chief Operating Officer Datuk Ramlee Kariah.
“This will hopefully put Sabah’s vast ocean territory of 165,576.74 square kilometres as a trusted destination for sustainable marine-based businesses,” he said at the 3rd International Business Events Forum here, Wednesday.
The forum, themed “Global collaboration through business events” was jointly organised by the Malaysian Association of Convention and Exhibition Organisers and Suppliers and the Sabah International Convention Centre, with Daily Express as media partner.
Ramlee said the Sabah Maju Jaya 2.0 plan balances economic growth with environmental care and good governance.
“The roadmap covers 2026 to 2030 and focuses on three main areas, namely, developing key economic sectors like agriculture, industry and tourism, improving people’s wellbeing and building infrastructure with sustainability in mind.
“The plan is guided by four strategies … Sabah First, Sabah Forward, Sabah Prosper and Sabah United are supported by five key factors, including financial management, funding access, effective service delivery, good governance and use of artificial intelligence,” he said.
He said Sabah’s Blue Economy Framework covers 25 components, 15 activities and 18 industries ranging from seafood and marine technology to trade, tourism, energy and environmental protection.
“These are organised around five key areas, harvesting sea life, ocean trade, extracting resources and generating energy, protecting ocean health and developing the river economy,” he said.
He also pointed out Sabah’s strategic location surrounded by seven neighbouring countries … Brunei, Indonesia, the Philippines, Vietnam, Japan, South Korea and China and three major trading seas.
He said to ensure proper project management, the State Government set up the Sabah Blue Economy Council in June 2025, chaired by the Chief Minister, Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor.
“The Council not only guides policy cooperation, but also monitors implementation, fostering transparency and accountability in all initiatives,” Ramlee said.
He pointed out that in July 2025, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim named Sabah as Malaysia’s Blue Economy hub, giving national backing that strengthens investor confidence.
“Sabah has passed several laws to support development, including the Renewable Energy Enactment 2024 and the Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion Enactment 2024, with potential sites identified along Sabah’s east coast following a work visit to Japan in June 2025,” Ramlee said. “The State also passed the Climate Change and Carbon Governance Enactment 2025.
“Through this enactment, Sabah integrates climate responsibility directly into economic planning, ensuring blue economic growth is resilient, credible and in line with global sustainability standards,” he said.
He also pointed to several projects that reflect how policies translate into investment opportunities, citing a hybrid floating solar farm at Pulau Gaya that produces a megawatt of power combined with seaweed farming.
“This initiative is led by local young entrepreneurs, proving their capability in sustainable technology adoption, innovation and value creation while contributing to economic transformation and inclusive growth under the Sabah Blue Economy Agenda,” he said.
He also cited Sabah’s first commercial-scale seawater treatment plant in Putatan, which addresses the growing water demand in coastal areas, drawing seawater from the Sepanggar Bay.
“The State Government has also simplified deep sea fishing licences, transferring oversight to local authorities for better resource management,” he said.
He said recognising that policies need financial backing, the State Government signed an agreement on Blue Economy Financing with Maybank in November 2025.
“The partnership opens access to financing for blue economy projects, research and companies, including micro, small and medium enterprises that deliver positive economic and environmental results,” he said.
