DALIAN: The Sabah–Dalian trade cooperation mission opened a new chapter of strategic collaboration with the signing of two Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) and three Letters of Intent (LOIs) involving the sectors of education, technology, maritime affairs, and blue economy development.
The document exchange ceremony was witnessed by Sabah Deputy Chief Minister III and Minister of Industrial Development, Entrepreneurship and Transport Datuk Ewon Benedick together with representatives of the Dalian government during the Dalian–Sabah Trade and Investment Sharing Session: Interactive Dialogue on the Blue Economy Sector, held on Wednesdsay.
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Among the MoUs signed was a collaboration agreement between Dalian Maritime University and University Malaysia Sabah (UMS), as well as a technology cooperation agreement on drinking water conversion for functional water usage between Jetama and Dalian Bowen Software Technology Co. Ltd.
The three LOIs involved a friendship cooperation initiative between the Dalian Municipal Federation of Industry and Commerce and the Sabah Maju Jaya Secretariat.
The LOIs also covered cooperation between Dalian Ocean University and the Sabah Maju Jaya Secretariat, as well as collaboration between the Beijing Open University International Curriculum Centre and Sabah’s Ministry of Education, Science and Innovation Sabah (KPSTI).
In his speech at the event, Ewon said the collaborations through the MoUs and LOIs reflected the strong friendship between Malaysia and China while also opening broader economic cooperation opportunities between Sabah and Dalian in trade, investment, industry, and the Blue Economy sector.
He said Sabah is now strategically positioned to strengthen trade relations and attract high-value investments, particularly in the Blue Economy sector.
“Sabah is strengthening its position as a regional hub for maritime trade, logistics, industrial development, and Blue Economy investments.
“Dalian is well known as a maritime, logistics, and industrial hub with strengths in port development, marine technology, shipbuilding, and coastal industrial development,” he said.
He added that Sabah is currently focusing on 15 key industries under the Blue Economy framework, including aquaculture, maritime logistics, marine biotechnology, ocean energy technology, and ocean monitoring.
“Sabah is also implementing several major projects, including the development of the Kudat Blue Economy Industrial Park, a desalination project at POIC Lahad Datu, and floating solar facility development at the Babagon Dam,” he said.
“Sabah welcomes strategic cooperation with partners from China, particularly Dalian, in technology transfer, knowledge sharing, capacity development, and joint ventures in high-impact sectors,” he added.
He also invited the Dalian government and companies to explore investment opportunities and strategic cooperation in Sabah.
In a related development, Ewon said Sabah recorded manufacturing sector investments totaling RM7.6 billion in 2025, an increase of 208 percent compared to RM2.47 billion the previous year.
He said that of the total amount, RM6.6 billion consisted of foreign direct investment (FDI), while RM1 billion came from domestic investment.
