KOTA KINABALU The Sabah Pavilion set up at the recent Hong Kong Food Expo Pro (HKDTC) was a success with eight Sabah companies making collective potential sales amounting to RM6.95 million, highlighting the promising commercial prospects of Sabah’s SMEs.
The eight companies are Taluwang Sdn Bhd, known for its ice cream bars (Ais Kream Potong), Hong Xin Food Sdn Bhd with its healthy tempeh snacks, Borneo Crocodile Center Sdn Bhd offers a variety of crocodile-based food products, Firebull Sdn Bhd specialising in cooked beef products, Aryana Food Sdn Bhd showcasing dried fish and packaged anchovies, NS Field Sdn Bhd with its unique green honey, Norcy Beauty Lab featuring packaged health fruit juices like pineapple juice and Bailina Food Products known for their packaged fruit snacks.
The State Government established the Sabah Pavilion at the HKDTC, one of Asia’s largest food exhibitions, as a strategic step towards elevating the presence of Sabah’s local products on the global stage.
Industrial Development and Entrepreneurship Minister Datuk Phoong Jin Zhe led the Sabah delegation of eight local companies showcasing a diverse range of speciality food products at the pavilion.
This debut of Sabah Pavilion in Hong Kong underscores the State’s commitment to helping local SMEs expand their market reach internationally.
The Sabah Pavilion garnered an overwhelming response during the first two days, attracting significant interest from visitors and business entities. The enthusiastic reception is a clear reflection of the quality and marketability of Sabah’s products on the international stage.
“This initiative is part of our continuous strategy to assist local businesses in scaling up, enhancing their competitiveness and positioning Sabah as an export-oriented economy,” said Phoong.
He said participating in international exhibitions and facilitating the presence of Sabah’s local businesses opens the doors for Sabahan SMEs to venture into global markets and strengthen their business growth.
During the event, Phoong also engaged in productive discussions with influential figures including Hong Kong General Chamber of Commerce Chairwoman Agnes Chan and Peter Lam Kin-ngok, Chairman of the Hong Kong Trade Development Council.
The dialogues focused on strengthening trade relations between Sabah and Hong Kong and exploring new export opportunities, particularly for Sabah’s seafood and halal products.
The Hong Kong Food Expo Pro, which hosts 1,800 booths from numerous countries, provides a vital platform for Sabah to introduce its premium products to the world.
The success of the Sabah Pavilion demonstrates the potential for local SMEs to thrive in international markets and contribute significantly to the state’s economic progress.
The State Government is committed to leveraging the positive outcomes from this expo and will continue to support local businesses in their efforts to explore and penetrate new markets.
