East Malaysia economic development strategies

Economic leaders in East Malaysia are advocating for specialized development strategies to ensure sustainable and inclusive growth for Sabah and Sarawak. During the 1st Borneo International Congress For Business, Education, Economics and Management, Sabah Chief Minister Hajiji Noor proposed using Borneo as a ‘living laboratory’ for research in digital transformation, smart agriculture, and rural development. Experts suggested a shift from upstream activities toward complex downstream sectors, such as agrotechnology and oil and gas, to increase productivity. There have also been calls to ensure national economic agendas account for the unique historical and constitutional profiles of East Malaysian communities.

Subsequent discussions have focused on strengthening business foundations and maximizing the oil and gas value chain. Business leaders emphasized that entrepreneurs must prioritize management and skilled teams over mere capital. To capture more economic value, the Sabah government is working to expand its oil and gas industry beyond exploration to include infrastructure, support services, and downstream activities. This includes land lease agreements for the Sabah Oil and Gas Terminal and the Sabah-Sarawak Gas Pipeline projects, aimed at enhancing the technical capabilities of local vendors.