Kota Kinabalu: Japan sees Sabah’s Blue Economy agenda as a promising platform for deeper bilateral cooperation, particularly in maritime sustainability, fisheries, forestry and green technology, said Japan’s Ambassador to Malaysia, Noriyuki Shikata.
Shikata said Sabah’s Blue Economy concept carries broad implications, including maritime environmental protection, maritime transport and shared interests in seafood consumption between Japan and Malaysia.
He said academic collaboration remains a key pillar supporting the agenda, especially through partnerships involving Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS) and Japanese institutions.
Among the initiatives is research conducted at the UMS Borneo Marine Research Institute (BMRI), led by Professor Dr Fiffy Hanisdah Saikim. The institute has maintained strong collaboration with Japanese researchers for years.
Shikata said Japanese Professor Emeritus Dr Shigeharu Senoo also worked closely with UMS, further strengthening bilateral research on marine science and sustainable fisheries.
“Sabah’s Blue Economy framework encompasses sustainable fisheries and forestry, with Japanese companies already investing in forestry-related activities in the State,” he told Daily Express in an interview during his visit to Sabah Publishing House Sdn Bhd, here.
Japan’s continued import of palm oil from Sabah also heightened interest in supporting sustainable palm oil production, particularly through recycling palm waste using Japanese technology.
Shikata said such technologies could reduce methane emissions while enabling palm waste to be converted into biomass, contributing to cleaner energy and circular economy practices.
He said during his trip to Sabah a year ago he toured UMS and the Borneo Medical and Health Research Centre. The centre is home to Professor Kamruddin Ahmed, a graduate of Nagasaki University, and is involved in joint research with Japanese academics on tropical infectious diseases.
Shikata said the collaboration addresses global health challenges, highlighting how joint research between Japanese and Sabahan scholars contributes to broader international efforts.
He emphasised that the wide range of academic and industrial cooperation demonstrates growing momentum in Japan-Sabah relations and expressed hope that Sabah’s Blue Economy agenda would attract greater interest from Japanese researchers, businesses and investors.
Shikata also highlighted Japan’s upcoming GreenxExpo 2027 in Yokohama next March, which will run for six months and is expected to showcase sustainability initiatives from various countries.
He said consultations are ongoing with the Malaysian Agriculture Ministry on potential participation, noting that the expo could provide a platform for Sabah’s Blue Economy initiatives to gain global exposure.
Shikata was on a three-day visit to Sabah.
