24 July 2010

KOTA KINABALU: State Industrial Development Minister Datuk Raymond Tan hopes Sabah will be able to match the oil and gas industry in neighbouring Sarawak and Brunei one day.
 “We will have to make sure we generate the same kind of oil and gas activities as in Brunei and Sarawak,” he said.

 He said being a gas-producing State meant many industries including those involved in producing iron, steel and solar glass panels, among others, would be interested to come, meaning big money for Sabah.
 “We don’t want gas to be taken away (from us) but we want it to generate activity in Sabah.
 “And this is in line with not only the State but also the national agenda on how we should develop our resources – going downstream, value-adding, creating economic activities and achieving our agenda of having a high-income community,” Tan said.
 Towards this end, he urged the public especially firms interested in being involved in the oil and gas sector to visit the expo, which will stretch to July 24 (Saturday), saying they could learn many things from the numerous international exhibitors.
 “It is an important event as far as I’m concerned because I’ve put priority in developing the oil and gas industry in Sabah.
 “You need events like this to get people to come and see what oil and gas is all about (and also) to get suppliers to come to Sabah,” he said, commending the event organiser, Fireworks Event (M) Sdn Bhd.
 “Most of the exhibitors are excited to be here and we should be just as excited to learn what they have … maybe some would like to have joint ventures or collaborations.”
 Fireworks Event Managing Director, Jerel Soo said this is Sabah’s first international oil and gas technology exhibition featuring world-class exhibitors from Singapore, Malaysia, United Kingdom, United States, China, Korea, Italy, Germany, Taiwan and Japan.
 He expects about 5,000 visitors to the event and an estimated RM100 million in business deals to be signed during and after the event.
 Other than business deals, participants and visitors could establish contact and networking details, as well as share information and knowledge on the oil and gas industry.
 Tan said he is also following closely a suggestion to the Brunei Government to have a three-state planning committee between Sabah, Sarawak and Brunei to coordinate oil and gas activities between them.

(Source:Daily Express)