Sabah becoming key destination for Chinese investment amid global trade shifts
KOTA KINABALU (April 30): Sabah-China Chamber of Commerce president Datuk Frankie Liew stated that U.S. President Donald Trump's launch of a global tariff war has accelerated Chinese enterprises' overseas expansion efforts.
Sabah, with its unique geographical location, rich resources and the friendly bilateral relations between China and Malaysia, is emerging as an important landing point for Chinese businesses seeking new opportunities.
Liew pointed out that as the global supply and production chains undergo intense restructuring, Sabah has the potential to become a strategic base in China's 'Going Global' strategy.
He revealed that a recent Chinese delegation comprising experts from various sectors — including finance, nuclear technology, game development, artificial intelligence and hotel development — visited Sabah for a fact-finding and investment exploration mission.
The delegation, made up of authoritative figures in their respective fields, included Xu Zhiliang, a seasoned corporate system alignment coach with over 20 years of management experience; veteran financial expert Hu Faxiang; hotel and mall developer Cui Guojun; hotel operations expert Cui Xiuhua; game and AI expert Jiang Tianhua and his collaborator Duobao; as well as Dr Jiang Yong. All of them expressed strong enthusiasm for expanding their overseas ventures.
During their visit, the delegation paid a courtesy call on Liew and held in-depth exchanges with him.
Liew emphasized that amidst the reshaping of the global economic landscape, cooperation between China and Sabah is ushering in new opportunities.
'While the U.S.–China trade war and American tariff policies pose challenges, they also compel companies to seek new avenues. Sabah's abundant natural resources, strategic location, and multicultural environment make it an ideal springboard for Chinese enterprises targeting the Southeast Asian market.'
The Chinese delegation expressed strong interest in Sabah's overall investment environment, particularly in areas such as healthcare, pharmaceuticals, wellness, eco-tourism, the hotel industry and high technology.
Among them, financial expert Hu Faxiang highlighted Sabah's vast potential in the healthcare, medical and wellness sectors.
He remarked, 'With the expanding middle class and rising health awareness, the health industry is key to future development. We hope to explore potential partnerships with relevant institutions in Sabah.'
Liew also expressed his hope that with joint efforts from China and Malaysia, Sabah could be developed into a regional hub for medical and healthcare-related industries.
'This visit comes at a time when China is accelerating its 'Going Global' initiative and furthering the Belt and Road Initiative. As a crucial node country, Malaysia is once again attracting Chinese capital. Sabah, as a key state in East Malaysia and a neighbor to the Philippines, Brunei and Indonesia, boasts a unique natural ecosystem and strategic location, making it an exceptionally attractive investment hotspot in the region.'
The delegation emphasized that this visit is just the first step. They intend to further study feasible projects and look forward to working hand in hand with various sectors in Sabah to integrate resources, complement strengths, and jointly create new opportunities under the new era of cooperation.
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