Visit Secret Garden

Ask you friend to bring you to the Secret Garden in Sembulan when you come to Kota Kinabalu for some business or visit with your family.You can take you dinner or lunch or even breakfast there as well as do you business talk there. Nice place to visit.

Watch Out For Borneo International Fair 2009

(Photo of Borneo International Fair 2008 - the First One)

BIF 2009 has been schedule end of 2009. Details will be let known in due course.

Sabah Bumiputera Chamber of Commerce is the main Organizer for BIF 2009.

Tough...Tough

Next 2 years, from 2009 are going to be tough for business. The world is going on a recession. So are we. Many people especially those in the private sector are going to lose their jobs. It is difficult to reduce the jobs at the public sector.

What do we do if the prices of oil palm and palm oil do not improve? The industry will be affected so are other sectors like the realty sector. Oil palm planters were the buyers of shops and offices. What happens now? Would they be able to pay their loans? Or are we going to face sub-prime problem when people are unable to pay their loans? Let us wait and see what the Ox year can do for us.

One District One Industri

SDSI 2008 was held at Wisma Tun Fuad Stephens from December 19-21,2008. SDSI showcased the products from the Districts; mainly snack foods, noney, handicraft

Food & Beverage expo 2008

One District One Industry Expo 2008

The One District One Industry Expo starts on December 19 and runs until December 21 at the Wisma Tun Fuad Stephens, Karaminsing. The One District One Industry Expo showcases the products from Sabah.

One District One Industry is commonly known as Satu Daerah Satu Industri (SDSI) and there are more than 30 districts in SABAH.

The organizer is the Department of Industry Development and Research of SABAH

Well done to the Deparment for organizing this expo and helps the developement of Sabah as a Development Corridor.

Renewing Passport

It took exactly 2 hours to renew a Malaysian International passport. The delivery system has really improved. You need to have the necessary document including a copy of your identity card, two colored photos with blue background and the form.

It costs RM300 for a 32 pages passport.

Nonetheless the machine to renew the passport online was out of order at the Kota Kinabalu Immigration Office. It has to be repaired to make it work again.

Food & Beverage Expo 2008

This event is on December 18-21, 2008. Department of Industrial Development and Research Sabah has been very kind in sponsoring the booths to enable the participants to showcase their products at Sabah Trade Centre.

Venue; Likas Kota Kinabalu

Join in the mood and make some money as well as build up your networking.

International Power Boat Race

The 2nd International Power Boat Race is happening on 12-14 December 2008 at the Kota Kinabalu Promenade Seafront.

This is the type of event that Kota Kinabalu needs to attract more international tourists to boost its tourism industry.

5.5% Growth For Malaysia

Malaysia is expected to post growth of 5.5% in 2008 said the Right Honorable Prime Minister of Malaysia

Nonetheless we must be prudent in our spending as 2009 could be an year of challenges. We must prepare from now

Your Local Partner in Sabah

Sabah Bumiputera Chamber of Commerce (SBCC) could be your local partner if you want to do business in Sabah, especially under the Sabah Development Corridor. You can check their website at www.dpbs.org for mor information.

Alamesra

Alamesra is located along Sulaman Coastal Highway, next to 1-BORNEO and UMS

Many shops and offices are still empty but the biggest botanical garden is located at Alamesra.

Parking is still FOC at Alamesr.

1-BORNEO

Visit 1-BORNEO when you next visit Kota Kinabalu, Sabah. They are 4 hotels there including Tune.Hotels.com, Novotel Hotel and Mecure Hotel

1-BORNEO is a self contained Shopping Mall that has a big enough area to hold an exhibition.

1-BORNEO is located along the Sulaman Coastal Highway next to UMS and Alamesra Shopping,Offices and Residential area. One of the most colorful Shopping Mall I had ever seen!

SINTEXT

SINTEXT is an integrated complex in Sandakan that is supposed to provide the immigration, custom and quarantine services in one place.

SINTEXT is a private sector initiative but SEDCO, the Sabah State Government Agency had been given some share to provide the local content.

Shipping, Trading including barter trading activities will be shifted to this place when completed.

Sabah Oil and Gas Terimal Kimanis

Sabah Oil and Gas Terminal (SOGT) had been launched by YAB Prime Minister of Malaysia, YAB Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi.

There had been some concern on the gas being supplied to Sarawak but PETRONAS is quick to say that we must have the critical mass first as the deposit is not very large.

We hope that the petrochemical industries will be started in Sabah as PETRONAS promised.

Visit Kota Kinabalu over the weekend

Try visiting Kota Kinabalu over the weekend and you have the chance to see an all Blind people's band playing your favorite oldies songs at the Sunday Tamu at Gaya Street. If you are the kind heart ed person you may also contribute if you like their songs. Honestly I don't like their songs. Pitching all over the place. Gaya Street Sunday Tamu is the most popular Street on Sundays. They sell almost everything there. Where else can one go in Kota Kinabalu on Sundays,if not Gaya Street?

What is POIC?

POI C is the short form of Palm Oil Industrial Cluster. POI C provides land and other facilities to investors, both local and foreign who are keen to set up industries based on palm oil. POI C is centrally locally in Lahad Datu to cater for the needs of BIMP-EAGA and the neighboring countries.

POI C has signed an MOU with Rotterdam Port, Holland as Rotterdam Port is second with regards to the importation of palm oil from Sabah.

Sabah contributes substantially to the 30% contribution of the total world supply of palm oil and second only to Indonesia.

POIC Lahad Datu

POIC gave a briefing of the status and progress of the Palm Oil Industrial Cluster (POIC) in Lahad Datu. DPBS HOLDING SDN BHD was led by its Group MD and Director cum Deputy President of Sabah Bumiputera Chamber of Commerce as well as DPBS Research Officer, Mr Abdul Karim and BIMP-EAGA Specialist, Mr Jonathan Nair. DPBS had indicated its interest to be involved in POIC. With the palm oil prices dropping to below RM1,500.00 it would be good idea for investors to go down stream in the palm oil sector.

End of Year Program

There are a lot of end of year programs before Christmas. Many of the Ministries, Departments and Agencies would want to finish their annual allocations or show that they are doing something for the people. We are pampered with such events, not forgetting also the expositions and festivals. Are we being loaded with too much information or junks as some people may want to call them. Junks or not information is necessary for us to increase our knowledge power. We have Cabbage Festival, Bamboo Festival, Fisherman Festival, Bazaar, etc and etc. We welcome such events. Thank you very much.

Bamboo Festival at Tamparuli, Tuaran Sabah

Join us in the Festival of Bamboo and Bamboo products on November 26, 2008 at Tamparuli, Tuaran SABAH. Tamparuli is located about 30 minutes drive from Kota Kinabalu, Town. It is a small town but famous for its ethnic Kadazan song of "Jembatan Tamparuli", a song sung by many Artists. The festival is at Dewan Tun Hamdan, the community centre in Tamparuli. There is going to be lots and lots of bamboo noises like the Simpoton, the musicial instrument from bamboo and gourd, flute and the hitting of the bamboo musical instruments like the Tagungak. This festival is being organized by the District Office of Tamparuli.

Promoting Bamboo

Sabah has lots and lots of Bamboo but products from Bamboo are not many. A factory in Tambunan in the Interior of Sabah produces Bamboo furniture and other bamboo products. This is the only factory that I know of that produces Bamboo products.

Villagers produces Bamboo handicrafts that helps them in their daily lives,like baskets, hats and products for fishing. More can be done to produce bamboo products like Chopsticks etc. This could be another activity for SDSI - Satu Daerah Satu Industri (One District One Industry).

Cabbages, Anyone?

Cabbage is an auspicious symbol in the Chinese feng shui. It symbolizes abundance. Pesta Kobis or Cabbage Festival is held at the foolhills of Mt Kinabalu from November 14-16,2008. Lots of programs to celebrate this festival. The festival is held in Kundasang, Ranau. It is about 2 hours journey by good road from the capital town of Kota Kinabalu. You may want to climb Mt Kinabalu before or after the festival. It is cool and refreshing in Kundasang and it is the place for temperate vegetables like cabbage. Jom lets us go to Kundasang!

Is the year of the Ox going to be good?

Is it true that business is going to be more difficult next year (2009) as a result of the 3F problems (fuel, food and finance)?

Whether it is going to be good or bad, we have to prepare to any eventualities. We must adjust our lifestyle. Food prices had increased. Oil palm prices had dropped. Crude oil prices had dropped. Our Ringgit had dropped compared to the USD.

If we study the Ox, they like to spend their time in a pool of mud, doing nothing, but just soaking their bodies. If the year is like this character then the year is going to be very challenging for all of us. How to get the Ox to go out then. Take out the water! The Ox will then have to look for the water.

Agriculture may be a good business as the Ox will have more to eat and we will have more to eat next year. This is more a feng shui philisophy for us to take heed in case we have nothing else to refer to for our direction in life.

The Year of Ox is going to be better for us if we can manage it properly and to our advantage.

Electricity Supply in Sabah

Electricity supply is one important factor that investors will consider when investing in another country. A country cannot have an irregular electricity supply as this will affect the factories and industries of the investors.

My house had been experiencing an irregular electricity supply. My house now had about 40% electricity supply. I had to sleep without the air condition and fax since yesterday (November 13). The supply is not yet back to normal today (14 November). My fridge cannot operate. My aquarium is affected. My computers cannot operate. I cannot cook in the kitchen. Is this the scenario that we want for investors to come to our place? I think not and I hope not. Therefore the authorities concerned must solve this electricity problem once and for all.

The hydro station had to be closed down because of floods and people are objecting the use of coal for IPP. They said use replaceable energy. What is replaceable energy anyway. anyway. Whatever it is, we must solve this elecricity problem if we want investors to come to Sabah to do business.

Borneo International Fair 2009

The second Borneo International Fair will be held in October 2009. This is being organized by the three Chambers of Commerce from Sabah; namely Sabah Bumiputera Chamber of Commere, Sabah United Chinese Chamber of Commerce, Kadazadusun Chamber of Commerce and Industry. The first Fair was very successful and was held at the Likas Sports Complex, Kota Kinabalu.Wishing the organizer a greater sucess.

Sabah International Expo 2008

Sabah International Expo (SIE) is back. It will be held on October 16-19,2008 at 1Borneo, Inanam Kota Kinabalu. SIE will showcase Sabah made products and services, particularly the Sabah Development Corridor (SDC). SIE is held once in two years. So it is your opportunity to see for yourself what Sabah can offer you. We welcome you to Sabah, the Land Below The Wind.

Virgin Coconut Oil

Sabah produces virgin coconut oil (VCO).
Virgin Coconut oil is the healthiest oil on earth.
VCO is natural, organic and green
Contact this site if you require VCO from BORNEO.

Pearl and Pearl Jewelry

Sabah is well-known for its pearl and pearl jewelry
pearlcrystal4u. blogspot.com could supply you this product should you require them.

Sipadan Island

Sabah is not just about mountain.
Sabah is surrounded by the sea.
Sipadan Island is a well known dive site in the world. Sipadan Island is located in the south east of Sabah.
Sabah's neighbors are Brunei, Sarawak, East Malaysia, Philippines and Indonesia
Sabah could be your gateway to these area.
This area is the East Asia Growth Area of EAGA and BIMP-EAGA strives to develop this area.

Get to Know Sabah East Malaysia

Mt Kinabalu is the travel icon for Sabah located in East Malaysia. Sabah used to be called North BORNEO. Sabah used to be under the Chartered Company but gained its independence in September 1963 through Malaysia.
Sabah is rich in natural resources and bio-diversity from the forests as well as the sea.
The major crop is oil palm. Other crops are cocoa and rubber.
There are major flights into Sabah through the Kota Kinabalu International Airport. The new airport is just completed in 2008. Visit Sabah now.