KOTA KINABALU, Dec 14 — The Sabah government wants to explore the blue economy in collaboration with foreign investors who have expertise in the field, said Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor.
He said the blue economy promises great potential for Sabah, including in the fields of fisheries and aquaculture, shipping and transport logistics, tourism, renewable energy, mineral resources, biotechnology and pharmaceuticals, and blue carbon.
He said Sabah also sees the economic potential in the areas of waste management and pollution control, research and development and marine infrastructure.
“The state government intends to explore the blue economy leading to economic development, creating job opportunities and improving the standard of living of the people.
“While leading a delegation to the Global Chinese Economic and Technology (GCET) summit in China in November, I invited investors to explore the blue economy concept with the Sabah government to develop the food processing sector.
“This is because Sabah has the longest coastline in Malaysia, with over 1,000 kilometres of potential for fish farming and other marine products,” he said in his speech at the opening of the SMJ-EKOB 2023 conference: Exploring New Treasures Through the Blue Economy Concept in Sabah with the theme “Beyond Limits, Unleashing Economy’ here today.
The text of his speech was read by Sabah state secretary Datuk Seri Safar Untong.
Hajiji also asked investors to consider investing in the energy sector, including fossil fuel sources and renewable energy such as solar and wind in the state.
He hoped that all parties related to the blue economy concept will work hard to attract more foreign investors, including from China, to invest.
“In the past it was just a concept in the economy, now it has become a must to explore. Moreover, Sabah’s geography is very strategic, surrounded by an ocean of 37,300 square kilometres (sq km), with a continental shelf of 116,800 sq km, and a coastline of 2,383 km.
“With the treasure and wealth of marine biodiversity that Sabah has, the potential is enormous. Thus, the government is committed and takes seriously the development of the blue economy because it understands how big the implications are for the people, the environment and the future together,” he said.
Hajiji said the blue economy concept was introduced in 2012 by the United Nations which refers to the sustainable utilisation of marine resources for economic growth, improved living standards, and job creation, while maintaining the sustainability of the marine ecosystem. — Bernama
