“It is our aspiration that Sabah becomes a gateway, where ideas meet capital, entrepreneurs meet partners, innovations meet opportunities and local businsses connect with regional and global markets,” he said at the Sabah International Business Luncheon Talk (SIBLT2026) at the Sabah International Convention Centre (SICC) here today.

His speech was read out by Deputy Chief Minister II Datuk Seri Masidi Manjung, who is also the State Finance Minister.

Hajiji said the state government had a crucial role to play in creating a conducive ecosystem to support entrepreneurship, encourage investment, facilitate business transactions and boost innovation and growth.

He said efforts to build Sabah’s economic future, however, could not be shouldered by the government alone, but required the cooperation of the business sector, investors, entrepreneurs, academics and the community.

He added that the aspiration also included efforts to foster creativity, resilience and entrepreneurial ambition among Sabah youth, as well as to empower them to become entrepreneurs, innovators and creators of new businesses.

Hajiji said the spirit of entrepreneurship was becoming increasingly important as the world undergoes rapid transformation, with technology changing traditional business models, artificial intelligence reshaping the way we work and climate change influencing investment decisions.

“Climate change is influencing investment decisions, new markets are emerging and tradtional markets are becoming increasingly competitive. In such an environment, we cannot just wait for opportunities to come to us. We must have the vision and initiative to create them. This is where Sabah has immense potential,” he added.

-- BERNAMA