Liew (middle), flanked by Lai (on her left) and Ng, with members of the delegation displaying promotional material for SITE 2025.
KOTA KINABALU: The Tourism, Culture and Environment Ministry (KePKAS) has no qualms about supporting the Sabah Investment & Trade Expo 2025 (SITE 2025) organised by the Federation of Sabah Industries (FSI) and scheduled to be held on September 26-28 this year.
Its Minister Datuk Seri Christina Liew said this is because SITE 2025 is unique being a four-in-one affair linking investment and trade components under one roof at the Sabah International Convention Centre (SICC).
The other three events are the 8th Sabah International Coffee Festival, Mini Thailand Week 2025 and Property Hunter Expo.
“KePKAS support SITE 2025. Given the magnitude and international promotion of this event, I believe it will be a ‘pulling factor’ as far as luring tourists to the state is concerned. This will further boost tourism growth. We look forward to potential investors exploring investment opportunities in tourism in Sabah, among other economic sectors.
“I was informed by the organisers that they expect more than 50,000 tourists and visitors over the three-day event,” Liew said after receiving a courtesy call by a delegation led by SITE 2025 Deputy Organising Chairman Ng Vui Chuan, who is also FSI Vice-President, on Monday.
Briefing the Minister, SITE 2025 Secretariat Head Kee Chiang Kiah said the event aims to highlight Sabah’s potential as a gateway to the Far East region and global markets, with focus on trade and investment opportunities in agriculture, tourism, manufacturing and green technology, while promoting Sabah’s industrial parks.
“The Expo will feature 300 exhibition booths and the participation of international and local industry players from China, Indonesia, Thailand, Singapore, Brunei, Vietnam and other Asian countries,” he said.
According to Kee, the highlights include a Business Matching Platform, Business & Industries Talk, Borneo Latte Art Competition 2025 (Sabah and Sarawak), Mini Coffee Workshop, Borneo KOPI-O Competition 2025 (Sabah), World Coffee Blending Championship 2025 (China) and Paper Cup Drawing Competition 3.0.
Other members of the delegation were SITE 2025 Deputy Organising Chairmen Dick Lee and Benjamin Lo, Secretary-General Dr Andrew Sim and Secretariat Officer Mohd Nazmi Razali.
Also present was the Ministry’s Permanent Secretary Datuk Josie Lai.
