KOTA KINABALU: Industrial Development and Entrepreneurship Minister Datuk Phoong Jin Zhe has set a bold vision for the Sabah Agro-Industrial Park (SAIP), calling for it to be strengthened as an incubation centre to nurture homegrown agro-industrial and biotechnology entrepreneurs.
During his inaugural official visit to SAIP since assuming leadership, Phoong emphasised the need to transform the 17-year-old facility into a vibrant launchpad for Sabah-based SMEs and innovators.
Recently appointed Chairman of SAIP, he underscored the importance of empowering local players over relying solely on external investments.
“Sabah’s wealth must come not only from natural resources, but from our ability to process, innovate, and export,” he said.
“SAIP must evolve into a breeding ground for Sabah’s next generation of agropreneurs and biotech innovators.”
Phoong toured the park’s extensive infrastructure, which includes production lines, herb processing units, an R&D laboratory, skincare formulation labs, smart greenhouses, post-harvest processing facilities, mushroom cultivation units and SME incubation lots.
While the facilities are equipped with advanced capabilities, he lamented that many have been underutilised for years.
“It’s truly heartbreaking to see so many incredible machines and facilities sitting idle for nearly a decade,” he said. “I’m committed to going the extra mile to ensure these assets are revived, fully utilised, and transformed into engines of growth for our local industries.”
To unlock SAIP’s potential, Phoong announced a strategic restructuring initiative focused on three pillars: increasing affordable access for local entrepreneurs, activating dormant facilities for SME use, and fostering strategic collaborations with research institutions and private investors.
He revealed that several potential investors have already initiated talks with the SAIP management team, signaling renewed confidence in the park’s prospects.
Phoong stressed that SAIP must go beyond being a traditional industrial park and instead become a dynamic center for talent development, innovation, and value-added production.
“We want SAIP to be the launchpad where Sabahans innovate, manufacture, and bring value-added products to both domestic and international markets,” he said.
He also called for the creation of a thriving ecosystem within SAIP—one that promotes mentorship, research, and entrepreneurship to strengthen Sabah’s competitiveness in agro-based industries.
With the right support, he believes the park can play a catalytic role in shifting the state’s economy from resource extraction to high-value exports.
Joining Phoong during the visit were SEDCO Chairman Datuk Rubin Balang; his ministry’s Permanent Secretary Datuk Thomas Logijin; SEDCO Group General Manager Datuk James Wong; SAIP General Manager Annef Osyairi; and members of SAIP’s board of directors.
Phoong thanked all stakeholders for their ongoing support and urged collective effort to transform SAIP into a powerhouse of innovation, inclusive entrepreneurship and sustainable industrial growth.
