Sabah Products’ Export Sales Potential Reaches RM95.9 Mln - Hajiji

KOTA KINABALU, May 16 (Bernama) -- The marketability of Sabah entrepreneurs’ products in international markets improved last year, with potential sales value reaching RM95.9 million.

Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor said the achievement reflected the success of various initiatives aimed at empowering Sabah entrepreneurs and enhancing the potential of local products.

He said the performance was measured by the participation of 124 small- and medium-sized industry entrepreneurs in 18 international trade expos.

“This performance represents a 37.12 per cent increase from RM60.4 million the previous year and proves that Sabah-made products possess the quality and strong potential to compete in global markets,” he said at the Buy Malaysian Products Inspiration programme here today.

Also present was Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Minister Datuk Armizan Mohd Ali.

Hajiji said the state government would continue expanding international market access this year through participation in major trade expos in several countries, including Singapore, Thailand, South Korea, Japan and France.

He said the move would not only create new market opportunities for Sabah entrepreneurs but also introduce the identity and uniqueness of Sabah products to the global stage.

Local entrepreneurs in Sabah should fully leverage the Buy Malaysian Products Campaign platform to promote and enhance their products' market potential, he added.

The implementation of the Buy Malaysian Products Campaign in 2024 recorded sales value of RM7.4 billion, up from RM6.5 billion in 2023 and RM2.7 billion in 2022.

Meanwhile, Hajiji said the country’s retail and wholesale trade sector continued to post encouraging performance, recording sales value of RM1.87 trillion last year, compared with RM1.766 trillion in 2024.

He said the achievement reflected growth in domestic economic activities, improved consumer confidence and rapid expansion in the country’s trade sector.

“It also proves that the government’s continuous efforts to strengthen the domestic trade ecosystem, including through campaigns such as the Buy Malaysian Products Campaign, are increasingly contributing to the country’s overall economic growth,” he said.

“Buy Malaysian Products Campaign is not merely a platform to sell products, but also an opportunity to build networks, strengthen brands and gain access to larger markets.

“I strongly encourage Sabah entrepreneurs to forge strategic collaborations, not only among entrepreneurs in the state, but also with industry players in Sarawak and Peninsular Malaysia,” he added.

-- BERNAMA