KOTA KINABALU: Japan’s Ambassador to Malaysia Noriyuki Shikata expressed optimism that a more welcoming investment climate in Sabah would attract greater interest from Japanese companies.
“When a more welcoming investment climate is created in Sabah, I hope there will be more interest among Japanese companies,” he said, adding that broader and more open opportunities could pave the way for increased participation, including by Japanese energy giant Jera.
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He said cumulative Japanese foreign direct investment in Malaysia had exceeded RM100 billion as of last year and estimated that Japanese investments in Sabah, focused mainly on energy and resource-based industries such as forestry and oil and gas, could be between RM500 million and RM800 million in recent years, with about 30 Japanese firms currently operating in the State.
Shikata was speaking to the Daily Express during his visit to Sabah Publishing House (SPH) Sdn Bhd on Thursday, where he was welcomed by SPH Deputy General Manager Dexter Yeh, Daily Express Chief Editor Datuk James Sarda and Overseas Chinese Daily News (OCDN) Chief Editor Liau Sin Foh, and noted that around 80 Japanese restaurants are operating in Sabah.
He is on a three-day official visit to Sabah, during which he will visit Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS) and meet State leaders, as well as promote Green×Expo 2027 in Yokohama, a six-month International Horticultural Expo from March 19 to Sept 26, 2027, focusing on sustainability, green technology and nature-based solutions.
