By WU VUIDE
KOTA KINABALU: The State Government is strengthening efforts to enhance the productivity and marketability of local entrepreneurs through a range of development programmes and international market initiatives, said Datuk Ewon Benedick.
The Industrial Development, Entrepreneurship and Transport Minister said the initiatives, implemented through the ministry and its agencies, aim to improve product quality, expand market access and boost the competitiveness of Sabah-made products at both domestic and international levels.
He said among the key programmes is the Sabah entrepreneur transformation programme (TRUS), which focuses on improving product packaging and branding to meet retail standards.
“Over the past five years, 250 entrepreneurs have participated in the programme, receiving support in areas such as product design, nutritional labelling, barcode registration and expiry date compliance,” he said, responding to a question from Nabawan Assemblyman Datuk Abdul Ghani Mohamed Yassin during the question-and-answer session at the State Legislative Assembly sitting yesterday.
Ewon said the SME-UP assistance programme has also benefitted 5,879 entrepreneurs as of 2025, providing machinery, equipment and support for trademark registration and halal certification to enhance production capacity and commercial viability.
He said the ministry continues to organise entrepreneurship development courses aimed at strengthening production capabilities, improving product quality and expanding market reach through both physical and digital platforms.
“These include training on food safety certification (MeSTI), halal compliance, product pricing strategies as well as digital marketing through platforms such as TikTok and Facebook,” he said.
Ewon added that the Sabah Economic Development Corporation (SEDCO), is assisting micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) to obtain halal and MeSTI certifications.
“To date, 10 entrepreneurs have been selected under this programme, with six successfully obtaining halal certification in 2025,” he said.
He said efforts are also being intensified to improve market access through collaborations with local and national retail chains.
“Through a fast-track programme with local supermarkets, including Bataras, 299 new entrepreneurs have been brought into the retail ecosystem over the past five years,” he said.
Ewon said a new collaboration with Aeon will enable 25 selected entrepreneurs to enter the Peninsular Malaysia market through structured mentoring in compliance, packaging and marketing strategies.
He said the ministry is also actively promoting Sabah products internationally through participation in trade expos.
“In 2025, participation in 18 international expos involving 124 entrepreneurs generated potential sales of RM95.9 million, representing a 37.12 per cent increase compared to RM60.4 million in 2024,” he said.
Ewon said the ministry will participate in 13 international expos this year, covering key markets in Asia and Europe, to further expand export opportunities for local entrepreneurs.
He added that the Sabah International Expo (SIE), scheduled from Sept 2 to 6 this year, will serve as a strategic platform to position Sabah as a competitive trade and investment destination.
“The expo will focus on key sectors including manufacturing, agriculture, tourism, healthcare and green technology, while connecting industry players across the BIMP-EAGA region,” he said.
Ewon said the Sabah Trade and Tourism Office in Singapore (STTO), is also strengthening access to the Singapore market via initiatives such as the Market Readiness Seminar and Sabah Fest Singapore.
“The previous Sabah Fest recorded participation from nine exhibitors and generated sales of approximately RM500,000,” he said.
He added that a new collaboration with CAIQ Biosecurity Sdn Bhd will support 20 entrepreneurs in meeting export requirements for the China market, including compliance with biosecurity standards and certification processes.
“These efforts are aimed at enhancing the competitiveness of Sabah entrepreneurs and strengthening the position of Sabah products in both domestic and global markets,” he said.
Ewon said the ministry will participate in 13 international expos this year, covering key markets in Asia and Europe, to further expand export opportunities for local entrepreneurs.
