SICC can be a game changer: Chamber

He said the Sabah International Expo (SIE) is postponed to 2019 pending the completion of SICC due only next year. It is being organised by MICCI with the Federation of Sabah Industries (FSI) headed by Datuk Ir. Chong Hon Len.

“MICCI Sabah proposed to the government to promote Sabah as one of the foreign direct investment (FDI) destinations through the Sabah International Expo.

“The Sabah International Expo has brought in many foreign investments to Sabah since its inception in 2000.”

Wong said that SIE’s efforts and promotional campaigns for Sabah contributed to the State having the second highest number of diplomatic consulates or offices outside of the Federal capital of Kuala Lumpur.

There are four official consuls and 13 honorary consuls based in Sabah.

SICC should be completed soon despite dissonance on the cost involved as the Meetings, Incentives, Conventions and Exhibitions (MICE) can generate a lot of income for Sabah, create more job opportunities, up-skill talents and retain them with high income, besides growing local enterprises and entrepreneurs.

“It is proposed that the government give special attention to positioning Sabah as the logistics hub and MICE hub for the Far East.”

“The completion of the Sabah International Convention Centre and upgrading of the Sapangar Bay Container Port to a Hub Port would equip Sabah with essential infrastructure in order to achieve this proposed status.”

MICE will propel Sabah forward in the next level of tourism as meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions comprise a type of tourism in which large groups, usually planned well in advance, are brought together for a particular purpose, and by their positive feedback, more publicity will be generated for other visitors to come to Sabah.

Sabah has a competitive advantage as it is deemed as a holiday resort and its natural beauty is a comparative advantage that makes the ‘Land Below the Wind’ a tourism hotspot great for mixing business with pleasure or leisure.

“Sabah never had a proper convention centre. When the SICC is completed, many foreign exhibitors will bring and display their products there. This is important to position Kota Kinabalu as a business hub.”

Wong also urged the government to complete the Pan-Borneo Highway.

“These are the economic ‘game-changer’s that will bring Sabah to the next level of economic development,” he stressed. – David Thien