TAWAU: Tawau has been identified as a promising agricultural and manufacturing export hub for the Singapore market following assessments by the Sabah Trade and Tourism Office Singapore (STTOS) and the Singapore Cooperation Enterprise (SCE).
The assessment came after a two-day visit by the STTOS and SCE delegation, during which they evaluated the export capabilities of several leading local operators before conducting the “Market Readiness Seminar: Singapore Market (Tawau)” at the Borneo Royale Hotel on June 26.
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The delegation visited SMR Biotech Group for seaweed cultivation, Top Borneo Fruits Sdn Bhd for tropical fruits, Kerupuk Lelek Enterprise Sdn Bhd for traditional snacks, Yong Chong Hong Sdn Bhd for staple food manufacturing and the Teck Guan Group of Companies for palm oil and cocoa processing.
The preliminary assessments confirmed Tawau’s strong potential to become a key supplier of agricultural and manufactured products to Singapore.
The half-day seminar, jointly organised by STTOS and SCE with support from the Ministry of Industrial Development, Entrepreneurship and Transport (Mindet), the Department of Industrial Development and Research (DIDR), and Invest Sabah Berhad, brought together 20 SMEs from Tawau and nearby districts.
The programme builds on the success of a similar seminar held in Sandakan last year and aims to equip Sabah entrepreneurs with the knowledge and market readiness required to successfully enter Singapore.
Led by SCE Executive Director Asia Pacific, Neo Poh Ling, the initiative focused on helping local businesses better understand Singapore’s regulatory requirements and highly competitive business environment.
The seminar began with a welcome and overview by SCE Consultant and Director for Global Sustainability Nexus, Wee Chin Chuan, who later presented a session on sustainable business strategies and financing options to strengthen the long-term competitiveness of SMEs.
The programme concluded with an interactive panel discussion and question-and-answer session moderated by Wee, providing participants with direct access to insights from Singaporean industry experts.
STTOS Managing Director Wendy Clare Stephen said the strong participation demonstrated that businesses in Tawau were prepared to expand beyond Sabah.
“The interactive engagement during today’s seminar proves that Tawau’s business community is fully ready to scale.
“By equipping these local enterprises with direct market insights and connecting them with Singaporean experts, we are actively building a sustainable pipeline for long-term cross-border trade,” she said.
Established in 2022 under the directive of Mindet, STTOS promotes Sabah’s trade, investment and tourism opportunities while strengthening partnerships between Sabah and international stakeholders.
