Kota Kinabalu: Sabah Oil & Gas Development Corporation (SOGDC) and Sedco Mining Sdn Bhd signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to strengthen strategic cooperation in industrial development in the State, particularly at the Sipitang Oil and Gas Industrial Park (Sogip) and the Sawit Kinabalu Sandakan Industrial Park (SKSIP).
Deputy Chief Minister III cum Industrial Development, Entrepreneurship and Transport Minister Datuk Ewon Benedick said it marked an important step towards enhancing coordination between two entities under the ministry.
“Sabah’s economic development requires an integrated approach, where State development agencies work together to optimise resources and investment opportunities.
“Strategic collaborations like this not only strengthen coordination between state development institutions but also create a stronger platform to stimulate industrial growth and enhance Sabah’s economic competitiveness at regional level,” he said.
He stressed that the collaboration is significant as it creates institutional synergy, policy alignment, and enables more strategic and integrated project implementation.
“When State development agencies operate within the same ecosystem and share aligned development goals, the planning and implementation of projects can be carried out more efficiently, quickly and effectively.
“This allows the State Government to optimise the use of resources, accelerate strategic infrastructure development and enhance investor confidence in Sabah’s investment ecosystem,” he said.
Ewon said land reclamation could expand the industrial development area at Sogip, supporting the entry of larger industrial investments in the future.
“At the same time, the potential to deepen the shipping access to SKSIP opens a new dimension for industrial development in Sabah. Enhancing shipping capacity will allow ports to accommodate larger vessels, improving supply chain efficiency and strengthening Sabah’s position as a regional industrial and trading hub,” he added.
He noted that these initiatives will not only reinforce Sogip as an industrial hub but also bring economic benefits to other industrial areas, including SKSIP and surrounding regions, while creating new business and high-quality employment opportunities for Sabahans.
Ewon said Sabah is endowed with abundant and diverse natural resources, but these can only be fully realised through strategic planning, quality investment and efficient and transparent governance.
“The State Government’s approach is clear: we do not merely want to exploit available resources, but ensure that their development creates a complete industrial value chain that not only increases the economic value of these resources but also develops supporting industries, new business opportunities, and employment for Sabahans,” he said.
He also expressed appreciation to Sedco Mining, particularly the implementation team, for their key role in realising this strategic collaboration.
“The commitment demonstrated by all parties today shows that Sabah has the capacity to develop resource-based industries in a competitive, progressive, and sustainable manner, thereby strengthening the State’s position as a competitive investment destination in the region,” he said.
Sedco Mining Chairman Chua Ming Ling @ Alan, SOGDC Chairman Datuk Ir Shahelmey Yahya, Sawit Kinabalu Sdn Bhd Chairman Hazem Mubarak Tun Musa and Sawit Kinabalu CEO Datuk Victor Ationg were also present.
