By WU VUIDE
KOTA KINABALU: Sabah needs investment, innovation and strong partnerships to achieve its vision of balancing conservation with economic development, said Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister Datuk Jafry Ariffin.
He said Sabah was grateful that the Securities Commission Malaysia (SCM) is promoting impact investing, which generates not only financial returns but also measurable social and environmental benefits.
Jafry said this in his welcoming address at the inaugural Sabah Asia-Pacific Impact Investing and Sustainable Development Summit 2026 at a hotel here yesterday.
“Impact investing is becoming a fast-maturing asset class.
“We need a blend of philanthropic, impact and institutional investors, including pension funds, insurance companies and sovereign wealth funds, to combine their expertise, experience and funding to deliver real social, ecological and inclusive development,” he said.
He said most of this capital remains concentrated in developed markets.
“Sabah believes there is a huge opportunity for the Asia-Pacific region to lead in carbon capture, forest restoration, biodiversity protection, rural development, alternative energy, food security and water projects that can make a meaningful difference,” he said.
Jafry said Sabah is working hard to preserve its cultural heritage and protect the environment.
He said many community-based ecotourism ventures, indigenous cultural enterprises and conservation programmes across Sabah are making a difference but need greater support.
“They need patient, long-term capital that recognises these projects deliver significant public benefits despite modest commercial returns in the early stages,” he said.
Jafry invited investors and visitors from Malaysia and abroad to work with InvestSabah on ecotourism and sustainable development projects.
Addressing NGOs, research institutions, universities and conservation organisations, he said Sabah needed their expertise to expand knowledge and train communities and social entrepreneurs in protecting the state’s forests, rivers, coral reefs, wildlife and biodiversity.
“We want ideas and partnerships to develop practical and viable solutions that benefit both people and nature,” he said.
He also encouraged delegates from Malaysia and abroad to take the opportunity to visit Sabah’s national parks, islands, forests and cultural villages.
More than 300 participants representing over 170 organisations attended the summit. They included delegates from overseas, across Malaysia and Sabah.
Guest speakers included SCM chairman Dato’ Faiz Mohamed and former Hong Kong Securities chairman Eddy Fong.
Also present were Tourism, Culture and Environment Ministry permanent secretary Datuk Josie Lai, Organizing Chairperson of the Sabah Asia-Pacific Impact Investing for Sustainable Development Summit 2026 Lim Hock Song, Invest Sabah chairman Datuk Roger Chin.
From left are Josie, Jafry, Masidi, Andrew, Lim and Roger at the summit.
