KOTA KINABALU: The Malaysian Investment Development Authority (Mida) has lauded Sabah Chief Minister Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal’s strategy to promote the state as an investment destination, especially his ‘speedy approval’ policy.
Mida CEO Datuk Azman Mahmud said on Dec 4 that the policy “presents a favourable image to investors as it shows Sabah’s preparedness in receiving investors to spur its economy.”
In a statement made available by the Chief Minister’s Department here, Azman referred to the investment mission to Japan that the chief minister headed and it boosted potential investors’ confidence as they could pose their queries directly to the state leader.
“It is very smart and proactive of the chief minister to avail himself to the hundreds of companies and investors for information on Sabah that the latter need.
“That is what investors go for. They want a decision as quickly as possible so they can go ahead and not waste time,” he said.
Azman, noting that Mohd Shafie’s efforts are in line with the Prime Minister’s call for investment approvals to be expedited, described the Sabah government’s Japan investment mission, in which the Ministry of International Trade and Industry (Miti) and agencies under it as took part, as a success as it had created greater opportunities for stakeholders, particularly in Sabah, to partake in ventures.
He said representatives of the 500 companies who attended the investment seminar and business matchmaking programmes in Kobe, Nagoya and Tokyo had shown interest in coming to Malaysia, including Sabah.
Overall, he added, the mission accomplished the aim of Miti, Mida, Malaysia External Trade Development Corporation and the Malaysian government in general to impart key information on Malaysia’s active investment climate and policy. – Bernama
