Kota Kinabalu, 20 August 2025 – Malaysian Bioeconomy Development Corporation (Bioeconomy Corporation), in collaboration with strategic partner Invest Sabah Berhad (Invest Sabah), has launched the Jelajah Bioekonomi 2025 Sabah Edition. This roadshow programme aims to strengthen Sabah’s bioeconomy ecosystem while creating more economic opportunities and driving sustainable development for the people.
Chief Executive Officer of Bioeconomy Corporation, En. Mohd Khairul Fidzal Abdul Razak, said that this year’s edition is more comprehensive and inclusive, enhanced with new elements such as the launch of innovative products from Bio-based Accelerator (BBA) companies.
“Through this collaboration with Invest Sabah Berhad, Bioeconomy Corporation has established close cooperation with nine other Sabah state agencies. This integrated initiative not only strengthens the state’s bioeconomy ecosystem but also supports the mission of the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation (MOSTI) to position Malaysia as a global technology developer by 2030,” he said during the programme held today at the Sabah International Convention Centre.
He also highlighted the continuity of successes from the 2024 edition, particularly in Sabah. “In 2024, Jelajah Bioekonomi successfully gathered over 200 participants, including 120 from Kota Kinabalu, Tawau, and Sandakan. A total of 249 participants underwent the BeST 2.0 programme, including 29 from Sabah, achieving a job placement rate of 97%. Furthermore, 12 Sabah-based companies participated as host companies or industrial training partners,” he explained.
For 2025, Bioeconomy Corporation is targeting the roadshow to be held in at least six strategic locations, involving over 200 participants and launching 60 new products or innovations. The initiative is further strengthened by the implementation of the BioSynergy programme through a collaboration between Bioeconomy Corporation and POIC Lahad Datu, which connects industry players and stakeholders with bio-innovation solutions from BioNexus Status companies and BBA companies.
“The role of BBA and BioNexus Status companies is vital in advancing technology, producing high-value products, and creating high-skilled job opportunities. To date, more than 630 of these companies across Malaysia have recorded approved investments amounting to RM8.7 billion as of the second quarter of 2025. Continued support for these companies will have a significant impact on the development of an STI-driven economy,” Mr. Khairul added.
Chief Executive Officer of Invest Sabah, YBhg. Dr. Firdausi Suffian, emphasized Sabah’s vast potential to emerge as a regional bioeconomy hub. “Invest Sabah is honoured to be the strategic partner for the Bioeconomy Roadshow 2025. We view this as a strategic platform to support the growth of the biotechnology and bio-based industries in Sabah, while expanding economic opportunities for the people of this state,” he said.
He added that Sabah’s rich biodiversity could be transformed into a wide range of high-value products. “Microalgae can be developed into biofuels, cosmetics, and health supplements; Sabah’s seaweed can be turned into pharmaceutical products, bioplastics, and animal nutrition; while palm oil biomass can be converted into bioenergy and green chemicals.”
Dr. Firdausi also called on local universities and research institutions to play a bigger role in R&D, product commercialization, and developing skilled talent. “Together with Bioeconomy Corporation and industry players, we can place Sabah at the forefront of the bioeconomy industry,” he stressed.
Jelajah Bioekonomi 2025 Sabah Edition aims to further strengthen the development of Sabah’s bioeconomy ecosystem by focusing on bio-based product commercialization, investment opportunities, and skills development. Sabah state agencies involved in the programme include the Ministry of Industrial Development and Entrepreneurship (MIDE), Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food Industry, Sabah Economic Development and Investment Authority (SEDIA), Sabah Economic Development Corporation (SEDCO), Department of Industrial Development and Research (DIDR), POIC Sabah Sdn Bhd, Kota Kinabalu Industrial Park (KKIP), Sawit Kinabalu Group, and Sabah Creative Economy and Innovation Centre (SCENIC).
Jelajah Bioekonomi 2025 Sabah Edition also serves as a one-stop platform offering certification guidance, market access, and government incentive information, while opening doors to strategic collaborations among agencies, industry, and investors. This year, the programme has been further strengthened with greater involvement of state government agencies, more structured follow-up sessions, and systematic monitoring of company impacts and participant achievements.
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