KOTA KINABALU: June 19, 2026 — The inaugural Sabah SME Fest 2026, organised by the Industrial Development and Research Department (DIDR), has brought together more than 60 entrepreneurs and exhibitors, with organisers targeting 5,000 visitors over the three-day festival.
Deputy Chief Minister III, who also serves as Sabah’s Minister of Industrial Development, Entrepreneurship and Transport, Datuk Ewon Benedick, said the festival, held in conjunction with SME Week, serves as a platform to promote local entrepreneurs’ products and services while expanding their market access.
“Sabah SME Fest 2026 is the first festival of its kind organised by DIDR, bringing together entrepreneurs, government agencies, financial institutions, entrepreneur development bodies and the private sector on a single comprehensive platform.
“It not only promotes SME products and services but also provides a space for strategic networking, knowledge-sharing and exploration of business opportunities that can directly benefit Sabah’s entrepreneurs,” he said during the festival’s opening ceremony at the Sabah International Convention Centre (SICC) today.
Mr Ewon said the programme helps SMEs enhance their competitiveness by exposing them to various forms of government support and strategic partners, including entrepreneurship training, business digitalisation, machinery and equipment assistance, certification and market expansion.
He noted that the festival also opens up opportunities for entrepreneurs to promote their products and services to consumers, potential buyers, government agencies and industry partners.
The state government has introduced a special Entrepreneurship Development Fund totalling RM1 million and expanded the implementation of the SME-UP Assistance Programme 2026 to help SMEs grow sustainably.
MINDET has also partnered with TikTok Shop Malaysia through the Sabah DigitalUp Launchpad 2026 initiative, which targets the participation of 1,000 SMEs, RM10 million in digital sales value and RM1 million in investment through grants, training and community support.
“Strategic collaborations such as the Sabah DigitalUp Launchpad 2026 and the Sabah Digital Mall campaign on TikTok enable SMEs to expand their markets via digital platforms and penetrate wider national and regional markets,” he said.
Mr Ewon identified the key challenges facing Sabah’s SMEs as improving productivity, expanding market access and adapting to technological change and digitalisation.
In response, he said the state government remains committed to assisting entrepreneurs through various SME development programmes, including SME-UP assistance, entrepreneurship training and business digitalisation initiatives.
“We want to see more Sabah entrepreneurs grow from local brands into national and regional pride, and even break into international markets.
“Through close collaboration between the government, financial institutions, the private sector and technology providers, we can ensure entrepreneurs gain access to the training, financing, digitalisation, marketing and networking opportunities they need to continue growing and remaining competitive,” he said.
Also present at the event were Assistant Minister of Industrial Development, Entrepreneurship and Transport, Datuk Jonnybone J. Kurum; MINDET Permanent Secretary, Datuk Thomas Logijin; and DIDR Director, Siti Nur’Ain Abdullah.
