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5pc growth in manufacturing sector: Ewon
June
03, 2008 (Source:
Daily Express)
KOTA KINABALU : Sabah's manufacturing sector
registered an estimated growth rate of five per
cent last year.
Industrial Development Minister Datuk Ewon Ebin
said the value of manufactured products exported
between January and August last year was RM2.96
billion, about 17.7 per cent higher than the
2006 figure.
He said the sector recorded investments
totalling RM855.51 million last year, while
1,336 employment opportunities were generated
from these investments.
Ewon said this when opening a seminar on
"Updates on Malaysia's Competitiveness 2008",
organised by the Malaysia Productivity
Corporation (MPC), at Hotel Le Meridien, here,
Monday.
He said the State Industrial Coordinator (SIC)
Committee had approved 65 industrial projects
last year, involving an investment of RM3.54
billion which offered 4,252 job opportunities.
He said most of the 65 projects had to do with
the palm oil processing sub-sector with 17
projects approved, involving accumulated total
investment of RM274.86, while the rest were in
chemical products with eight projects approved
(RM526.28 million); E&E products and furniture
and fixtures sub-sectors, each of which saw six
projects approved (RM174.16 million and RM20.10
million, respectively); basic metal fabrication
and transportation sub-sectors with five
projects approved each; and wood and wood
products with four projects approved.
This is besides another 14 projects which were
approved under the 'others' sub-sector category.
"In terms of investment value, the highest came
from the paper, printing and publishing
sub-sector with RM1.89 billion worth of
investment and secondly, from the chemical
products with RM526.28 million," he said.
These were followed by the food manufacturing
sector with RM274.86 million, basic metal
fabrication with RM258.15 million and nine other
sub-sectors with RM380.04 million.
On investment promotions, Ewon said last year
his Ministry had organised 10 overseas trade and
investment missions as well as several
expositions and seminars both locally and
overseas.
The objectives of these promotions were to
attract investment to Sabah, he said, adding the
results of the exercises were tremendous with
potential sales, locally and abroad, amounting
to more than RM5 million.
Apart from attracting foreign direct investment,
he said efforts were also made to promote local
small and medium enterprises (SMEs).
"In this regard, a special promotion was made to
enhance the skills of the SME workforce," he
said.
Last year, the Ministry through the Department
of Industrial Development and Research (DIDR)
conducted six courses on food processing
technology in collaboration with Mardi.
To assist the SMEs, Ewon said the Ministry also
works very closely with the MPC to enhance the
skills of workforce, especially in the area of
productivity and quality, besides SMIDEC for
grants.
For this year, he said the State Government has
allocated to his Ministry a total of RM30.15
million for its operating expenditure and for
the implementation of projects approved under
the Ninth Malaysia Plan (9MP).
Ewon said Sabah would continue to organise trade
and investment missions as well as expos and
seminars abroad and locally.
This year, Sabah will take part in the Malaysia
Halal Showcase, the Malaysia International Food
and Trade Fair, the Second International Trade
2008 and MAHA.
"Sabah will also take part in the 103rd China
Import and Export Fair in Guangzhou and the 5th
China-Asean Expo in Naning," he said.
Sabah is targeting China as one of its business
partners due to its huge market, he said, adding
the State Government will continue to enhance
infrastructure and facilities to assist
companies.
MPC Director-General Datuk Nik Zainiah Nik Abdul
Rahman and the Prime Minister Department's
Economic Planning Unit Deputy Director II
(Economic-Macro Section) Muhamad Abdul Rahaman,
were also present.
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