Hajiji (right) presenting a memento to Vanu.
KOTA KINABALU: The State Government welcomes Singapore’s decision to open a consulate in Kota Kinabalu this year, a move set to further strengthen bilateral relations between Sabah and the republic.
Chief Minister Datuk Seri Haji Hajiji Haji Noor said that the establishment of the consulate is of strategic importance, encompassing economic, diplomatic, investment, trade and security aspects, particularly concerning Sabah and Singapore.
He expressed confidence that Singapore’s consulate presence in Sabah would expand mutual cooperation, thereby unlocking more investment and trade opportunities that directly benefit the state’s development.
“The State Government welcomes the opening of the Singapore Consulate in Sabah this year. It is a positive development that will further bolster the existing ties between Sabah and Singapore,” he said.
The Chief Minister said this during a courtesy call from the Singapore High Commissioner to Malaysia, Vanu Gopala Menon, at his office in Menara Kinabalu yesterday.
Hajiji added that the State Government also welcomes Singaporean investors to explore competitive sectors in Sabah and encourages more tourists from the republic to visit the state.
Meanwhile, Vanu said that Singapore will open consulates in both Sabah and Sarawak after receiving approval from the Malaysian Government last month.
On December 4, Singapore Prime Minister Lawrence Wong welcomed Malaysia’s official approval for the proposed consulates in Sabah and Sarawak, describing it as a significant step in strengthening the relationship between the two nations.
