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KOTA KINABALU: Sabah Indian Muslim Chamber of Commerce and Industry advisor Datuk Abdul Kadir M.E. Sikkandar said establishing an Indian consulate in Sabah would strengthen tourism, trade and bilateral ties with India.

According to The Borneo Post, he said Sabah could tap into India’s fast-growing outbound travel market, noting popular destinations like Bangkok, Singapore and Dubai are already drawing large numbers of Indian tourists.

Abdul Kadir said Sabah’s natural attractions, including Mount Kinabalu, islands in Semporna and its wildlife, remain largely unknown to Indian travellers despite offering competitive value.

Beyond tourism, he highlighted trade opportunities, especially palm oil exports, and said a consulate would ease business links and provide services for Indian nationals in Sabah.

He also pointed to potential Indian investments and high-spending destination weddings.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi recently announced plans to set up a consulate in Kota Kinabalu during his official visit to Malaysia.