Haji Hajiji Haji Noor
KOTA KINABALU: Chief Minister Datuk Seri Haji Hajiji Haji Noor expressed hope that initiatives such as the BigSabah Sale will further expand market access and strengthen Sabah’s position in both regional and international trade.
“I hope platforms like the BigSabah Sale will continue to foster commercial partnerships and reinforce Sabah’s economic integration with BIMP-EAGA and the Asia-Pacific corridor,” he said.
Hajiji said strong and meaningful partnerships continue to drive Sabah’s commercial growth.
“The State Government values collaboration with industry stakeholders whose support has enabled wider trade facilitation, market expansion, and business development for local entrepreneurs.
“The presence of international exhibitors and hosted buyers today reflects growing confidence in Sabah’s potential as a trading gateway in East ASEAN,” he said when officiating the BigSabah Sale at the Sabah International Convention Centre (SICC) here today. His speech was read by Finance Minister Datuk Seri Masidi Manjun.
Masidi representing the Chief Minister in cutting the ribbon to mark the opening of the BigSabah Sale 2025 at SICC today.
Hajiji said the BigSabah Sale exemplifies Sabah’s continuous progress in cultivating a dynamic, well-connected economy.
He added that the event highlights the importance of enterprise participation, industry collaboration, and regional cooperation as key drivers of sustainable growth.
“Through innovation, sustainability, and smart collaboration, Sabah is steadily transforming into a high-value business and investment destination.
“I encourage all exhibitors, entrepreneurs, and investors to maximise this opportunity — form new partnerships, explore new product ecosystems, and drive new ideas,” he said.
The Chief Minister also noted that the State Government recognises business events as a catalyst for economic activity and a strategic driver of trade connectivity.
“In November 2022, the State Government established the Sabah Convention Bureau (SCB) to elevate Sabah’s competitiveness in meetings, incentives, conferences, and exhibitions (MICE).
“Through collaboration with industry players, the SCB continues to play a vital role in strengthening the business events ecosystem by attracting major programmes and enhancing Sabah’s visibility on the global events landscape,” he added.
“Business events are powerful engines of opportunity as they generate economic activity not only for the hospitality and retail sectors, but also for logistics, agriculture, technology, and manufacturing.
“Equally important, they strengthen local supply chains and talent development,” he said.
Thirteen countries — Brunei, Indonesia, the Philippines, Thailand, Singapore, China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, South Korea, India, Turkey, Egypt and Pakistan — are participating in this year’s BigSabah Sale.
