Kota Kinabalu — The Sabah Economic Development and Investment Authority (SEDIA) signed a  Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Universiti Malaysia Sabah to strengthen, promote and develop economic research cooperation and related activities.

The MoU will facilitate collaboration between SEDIA and UMS in regards to:

• Education and research;
• Training and Workshops;
• Collaborative publication;
• Conferences and seminars; and
• Exchange of expertise.

 The MoU was signed in conjunction with the opening of the International Conference of Economics 2023 (ICE 2023), which carries the theme “Building a Sustainable Future: Navigating the Economic Realities of Environment, Social and Governance Challenges”. ICE 2023 is an academic conference co-organised by UMS with SEDIA and the Institute for Development Studies, Sabah. As part of the programme, a presentation on the Sabah Development Corridor and the functions of SEDIA was given by SEDIA Chief Investment Officer Kevin George Ukang.

ICE 2023 is an international conference that offers a platform for discussion of various economics topics, while focusing on building a sustainable future and aiming to increase awareness and understanding of current economic realities. Additionally, ICE 2023 provides an opportunity to build relationships among academicians, practitioners, and policymakers from the private and public sectors across the international community.

The efforts by SEDIA to increase collaboration with UMS is in line with Sabah Development Corridor (SDC) plans through several of its Initiatives, as outlined in the SDC Blueprint 2.0. These Initiatives are:

• #4: Knowledge Hub;
• #14: Green Technology Development Centre; and
• #23: Career and Talent Sabah.

The blueprint is a transformative plan with high aspirations formulated to stimulate economic growth while ensuring inclusiveness and sustainability, and sets a target of attracting RM95 billion in private investment, generating an additional 70,000 jobs for Sabahans and contributing an additional RM20 billion in GDP through SDC by the year 2030.

Five Strategic Thrusts (STs) are prioritised through the blueprint due to their disproportionate impact on Sabah’s overall socio-economic development, which are:

1. Restructuring the Business and Industry Ecosystem;
2. Spurring Key Economic Growth Areas;
3. Transforming Human Capital;
4. Improving Regional Inclusion; and
5. Enhancing Environmental Sustainability.

Through these five STs, 30 SDC Initiatives towards 2030 have been prioritised for implementation, and are expected to have a catalytic effect on Sabah’s overall socio-economic development, while ensuring balanced growth across the SDC.

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“SEDIA Meningkatkan Penglibatan dalam Pendidikan Tinggi melalui Kerjasama dengan Universiti Malaysia Sabah”

Kota Kinabalu — Pihak Berkuasa Pembangunan Ekonomi dan Pelaburan Sabah (SEDIA) telah menandatangani satu memorandum persefahaman (MoU) dengan Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS) untuk mengukuhkan, mempromosikan dan membangunkan kerjasama dalam bidang penyelidikan ekonomi dan aktiviti berkaitan.

MoU tersebut akan memudahcarakan kerjasama antara pihak SEDIA dan UMS dari segi:

• Pendidikan dan penyelidikan;
• Latihan dan bengkel;
• Penerbitan kolaboratif;
• Persidangan dan Seminar; dan
• Perkongsian kepakaran.

Acara menandatangani MoU itu dijalankan sempena Majlis Perasmian International Conference on Economics 2023 (ICE 2023). ICE 2023 membawa tema “Building a Sustainable Future; Navigating the Economic Realities of Environment, Social and Governance Challenges”, merupakan satu persidangan akademik anjuran UMS dengan kerjasama SEDIA dan juga Institute for Development Studies, Sabah (IDS). Satu taklimat mengenai Koridor Pembangunan Sabah (SDC) dan peranan SEDIA juga disampaikan oleh Encik Kevin George Ukang (Ketua Pegawai Pelaburan SEDIA).

ICE 2023 menawarkan platform untuk perbincangan pelbagai topik ekonomi, memfokuskan kepada membina masa depan yang mampan sambil menyasarkan untuk meningkatkan kesedaran dan pemahaman tentang realiti ekonomi semasa. Selain itu, ICE 2023 memberi peluang untuk membina hubungan dalam kalangan ahli akademik, pengamal dan penggubal dasar daripada sektor swasta dan awam merentas komuniti antarabangsa.

Usaha SEDIA dalam meningkatkan kerjasama dengan UMS adalah sejajar dengan perancangan Koridor Pembangunan Sabah (SDC) melalui beberapa Inisiatif yang digariskan dalam Rangka Tindakan SDC 2.0, iaitu:

• #4: Hab Pengetahuan;
• #14: Pusat Pembangunan Teknologi Hijau; dan
• #23: Kerjaya dan Bakat Sabah

Rangka tindakan ini adalah satu pelan strategik beraspirasi tinggi, yang dirangka untuk merangsang pertumbuhan ekonomi sambil memastikan keterangkuman dan kemampaman, serta menetapkan sasaran menjana RM95 bilion pelaburan swasta, mewujudkan 70,000 pekerjaan baharu untuk rakyat Sabah, dan menyumbang kepada penambahan RM20 bilion dalam KDNK melalui SDC menjelang tahun 2030.

Lima Teras Strategik (ST) diutamakan untuk Rangka Tindakan SDC 2.0 memandangkan impak ketidakseimbangannya terhadap keseluruhan pembangunan sosioekonomi Sabah, iaitu:

1. Penyusunan Semula Ekosistem Perniagaan dan Industri;
2. Memacu Aktiviti Pertumbuhan Ekonomi Utama;
3. Transformasi Modal Insan;
4. Memperluaskan Keterangkuman Wilayah; dan
5. Mempertingkatkan Kelestarian Alam Sekitar.

Melalui lima ST ini, 30 Inisiatif SDC ke arah tahun 2030 diberi keutamaan untuk dilaksanakan, dengan jangkaan dapat memberi kesan pemangkin terhadap pembangunan sosioekonomi Sabah secara keseluruhan, sambil memastikan pertumbuhan seimbang di seluruh SDC.