(Kota Kinabalu, 20th) Following the Sabah Progress and Prosperity Secretariat under the Sabah Chief Minister’s Department held the Sabah Progress and Prosperity 2.0 (SMJ 2.0) Development Blueprint Forum and Citizens’ Assembly in Tuaran last Saturday (17th), it quickly established a dedicated working group to respond to a number of suggestions put forward by the business community. The action was recognized by the industry.
The Sabah Progress and Prosperity Secretariat issued a statement saying that the above-mentioned event was supported by the Malaysian Digital Chamber of Commerce, the Malaysian Venture Capital and Private Equity Association, and the Business Facilitation Task Force (PEMUDAH) Financial Services Technology Working Group. It brought together industry associations, chambers of commerce, professional bodies, young business leaders, SMEs and policymakers to provide opinions on the economic direction of Sabah for the next 5 years.
Diagnosing the Development Needs for the Next 5 Years
The discussion focused on private sector competitiveness, youth entrepreneurship, the digital economy and venture capital, talent development, regulatory efficiency, and investment readiness. Industry stakeholders called for strengthened coordination between state government agencies and industries, expedited approval processes, clarification of the implementation direction of digital innovation economy and youth entrepreneurship programs, and the establishment of a more systematic public-private partnership mechanism to ensure the implementation of the Sabah Progress and Prosperity 2.0 policy.
Industry experts believe that, in addition to a clear vision, the speed of execution and cross-agency collaboration will determine the effectiveness of Sabah Progress and Prosperity 2.0 over the next five years.
The Sabah Progress and Prosperity Secretariat stated that the working group will integrate industry concerns into actionable policy recommendations and promote inter-ministerial coordination and ongoing dialogue. The forum’s findings will be compiled and released by Sabah Chief Minister Datuk Hajiji Noor on January 30th.
