KOTA KINABALU, NOV 21 – The Sabah government’s aspiration to promote Sapangar Bay Port as a trade hub in the region is expected to have a significant positive impact on the state’s economy in the long term, the State Legislative Assembly (DUN) conference was told today.
Assistant Minister of Public Works, Datuk Robert Tawik said after taking over port operations from Sabah Ports Sdn Bhd (SPSB), DP World, the global port terminal operator, has formulated various strategies and directions to achieve that goal.
“The main steps planned include increasing Container Port Capacity, where DP World plans to expand the capacity of Sapangar Bay Port to be able to accommodate more cargo and improve logistics efficiency.
“This will strengthen Sabah’s position as a competitive shipping center in the region.
“Collaboration with international operators will be implemented to increase efficiency through the use of best practices.
“DP World will introduce best practices and the latest technology that will speed up the cargo transfer process and minimize operating time,” he said.
He said this in response to an oral question from Datuk Jaffari Waliam (Assembly Appointed) who asked what was the direction of DP World after taking over port operations from SPSB.
Last September 9, SPSB officially handed over the management and operation of Sapangar Bay Container Port (SBCP) to DP World, a global leader in smart supply chain logistics.
Commenting further, Robert said DP World will also strengthen strategic trade routes through cooperation towards expanding the main maritime route network.
It is also expected to reduce logistics and maritime costs for users, while making Sabah more competitive as a trade and investment destination.
The development of a free zone at the port will open up great opportunities to attract more foreign investment, encourage the growth of downstream activities in addition to increasing cargo production. – Named