GUANGZHOU: November 14, 2026 – Farmers, breeders and fishermen in Sabah are set to enjoy stronger protection if their produce is hit by natural disasters. Their products will also have the opportunity to penetrate the Jiangxi market in China through the business network of two young entrepreneurs from the region.
The Sabah delegation’s working visit to Guangzhou opened up this opportunity. Sabah Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food Industry Datuk Jamawi Jaafar said two groups of Chinese investors and entrepreneurs expressed interest in establishing cooperation with Sabah.
He said a meeting with President Tang, a natural disaster management expert in Beijing, provided exposure to the standard operating procedures (SOP) for disaster management.
Among these is a crop protection system developed through cooperation between the Chinese government and insurance companies that reduces farmers’ losses when disasters occur.
“We can learn from this and they have also invited the ministry to Beijing to obtain a more detailed briefing. We will discuss the possibility of a follow-up visit together with the ministry’s Permanent Secretary for next year,” he said.
In a separate development, Jamawi said two young entrepreneurs from Jiangxi, Liu and Wu, offered a new business network. The network would help Sabah’s farmers, breeders and fishermen market their products to the region.
Jiangxi is among the food-producing regions in China, but fruits and several other agricultural products are still needed there.
However, he said efforts to realise the export opportunity require further study. Focus must be given to trade procedures, biosecurity requirements and the standards for product entry into the Chinese market.
The entire four-day visit successfully opened up broader cooperation opportunities, he said. It was the result of meetings, discussions and technology sharing with industry players in China, he said.
He also expressed appreciation to the President of the Malaysia-China Chamber of Commerce (MCCC) Sabah Chapter, Datuk Dexter Lau. The appreciation was given for the involvement of more than 120 young Sabah entrepreneurs in the mission.
Dexter said the visit provided strategic value. It was not solely focused on exploring business opportunities, but also encompassed implementation aspects, cooperation expansion and recovery strategies in the event of a crisis.
“Direct ties between the Sabah and China business communities can facilitate trade networks. This in turn enhances economic circulation within the state and creates more job opportunities,” he said.
The interest of Chinese industry players in establishing ties with Sabah is a positive indicator, he said. The state has the potential to be highlighted as a trade and investment partner.
The Sabah delegation’s visit to Guangzhou served as a platform to strengthen bilateral economic relations. It also opened up space for local entrepreneurs to explore international markets and enhance the competitiveness of Sabah-made products.
