KOTA KINABALU: Sabah is eyeing wider global market ventures by collaboration with AirAsia, says Datuk Seri Dr Jeffrey Kitingan.
The Sabah Deputy Chief Minister cum state Agriculture, Fisheries and Food Industry Minister said there are various plans down the line and anything that helps to boost Sabah’s export sectors would be supported.
He said this during a recent meeting with the AirAsia team led by its chief executive officer Riad Asmat, who presented an overview of their ecosystem, with particular focus on their specialised ventures—GTR, Teleport and AirAsia Grocer.
Riad said these ventures played a key role in exporting Sabah's fresh products such as vegetables and seafood to Peninsular Malaysia and international markets, including China and Hong Kong.
Among the innovative initiatives discussed was AirAsia Grocer's recent adoption of cold chain technology, centred around a new cold room facility in Inanam aimed at ensuring that products from Sabah reach their destinations in optimal condition.
The airline is also in the planning stages of exporting Tambunan ginger powder to China, packaged in tea bags, Kitingan was told.
In his remark, he praised AirAsia's contributions to Sabah's economy and believed that the cold chain technology implemented by AirAsia could revolutionise how Sabah’s products were perceived globally.
“I am particularly enthused about AirAsia's efforts to export Tambunan ginger powder to China,” he said.
“Sabah's agricultural sector has immense untapped potential, and this venture could well be a catalyst that propels us onto the international stage,” Kitingan said.
“This is the kind of multi-stakeholder engagement that we need. It is vital for the growth of our state, and I am here to ensure that these collaborations come to fruition," he added.
He said the meeting was invaluable and believed that AirAsia could serve as a significant ally in the state government’s mission to boost Sabah's export capabilities.
“The world needs to take note of what Sabah has to offer, and you can count on my full backing as we embark on this promising journey,” Kitingan said.
