KOTA KINABALU, Sabah’s Blue Economy is expected to produce 491,000 tonnes of marine products like fish and prawns each year, valued at RM3.25 billion, said Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor.
Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor
In a speech delivered by State Finance Minister Datuk Seri Masidi Manjun at the International Business Review (IBR) Asean Awards on Saturday (July 19), Hajiji said marine harvesting is just one of 14 areas under the Blue Economy, which also includes ocean renewable energy, blue carbon, tourism, maritime transport, and marine biotechnology.
State Finance Minister Datuk Seri Masidi Manjun
“There’s much more to the Blue Economy than just deep-sea fishing,” he noted.
Hajiji highlighted Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion (OTEC) as a major opportunity. OTEC plants are planned along 500km of Sabah’s coast and are expected to eventually produce 20,000MW of clean energy — a regional gamechanger, he said.
The Blue Economy Industrial Park has been established in Kudat, along with two other new parks in Kota Belud and Beaufort, to attract investments.
Since September 2020, Sabah has secured RM17.41 billion in approved foreign and domestic investments from 73 companies in the manufacturing sector. Of these, 52 companies have already begun operations with a total investment of RM7.8 billion, creating over 3,600 jobs.
From 2022 to 2024, Sabah received additional investment proposals worth RM42.3 billion, which are expected to create nearly 33,000 new jobs.
Hajiji also mentioned a landmark agreement with Petronas, giving Sabah greater participation in the oil and gas sector, including stakes in the Samarang oil and gas field, Samur, and a major floating LNG project in Sipitang.
To support rising investments, Sabah has launched the Energy Roadmap and Master Plan 2040, aiming to generate 700MW of energy in the near term. The government has also allocated RM679.85 million in 2024 to address urgent water shortages and plans to complete the Ulu Padas hydropower project for long-term supply.
At the IBR Asean Awards, nine organisations were recognised for excellence across various sectors. Sabah was named Malaysia’s “Most Outstanding State” for 2024, while Negeri Sembilan was awarded “Most Progressive State.”
