The 11th Sabah International Expo (SIE) 2026, jointly organised by the Sabah State Government, Federation of Sabah Industries (FSI) and Malaysian International Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MICCI) Sabah Chapter, concluded on a high note following five days of business engagement, regional dialogue and international collaboration at the Sabah International Convention Centre (SICC) in Kota Kinabalu from 2 to 6 September. The expo reinforced Sabah’s growing position as a gateway for trade, investment and partnerships across Borneo, BIMP-EAGA, ASEAN and the wider Asia Pacific.
Sabah - Connecting Markets, Creating Value, Opening Global Opportunities
Held under the theme “Sabah – Your Gateway to Global Opportunities,” SIE 2026 brought together exhibitors, investors, entrepreneurs, business leaders and policymakers from more than 15 countries, including Australia, Brunei Darussalam, China, Denmark, Finland, France, India, Indonesia, Japan, Korea, the Philippines, Poland, Singapore, Thailand, the United Kingdom, the United States, Senegal and Zambia, reflecting growing international interest in Sabah as a destination for business, investment and regional partnerships.
Throughout the week, the expo created opportunities for businesses to exchange ideas, explore new markets, forge partnerships and build connections that could extend well beyond the exhibition halls.
Connecting Markets, Creating Opportunities
Officiating the opening ceremony, Yang Berhormat Datuk Ewon Benedick, Minister of Industrial Development, Entrepreneurship and Transport of Sabah, described SIE as more than an exhibition, but a business platform where products meet markets, entrepreneurs meet partners and ideas become opportunities.
Since its establishment in 2000, SIE has grown into one of East Malaysia’s premier business platforms. The 2026 edition featured 300 exhibition booths, with approximately 35% comprising international exhibitors, alongside around 2,000 trade visitors and a target of RM18 million in potential business transactions.
Anchored by the theme “Sabah: Your Gateway to Global Opportunities,” Datuk Ewon said the theme reflects Sabah’s readiness to connect businesses with markets across Borneo, BIMP-EAGA, ASEAN and the wider Asia Pacific, while creating greater opportunities for Sabahans.
He also challenged businesses to think beyond what Sabah can sell and focus instead on what the state can build, produce, process, distribute and export together with its regional neighbours, leveraging Sabah’s strategic position at the heart of Southeast Asia.
Closing his address, Datuk Ewon encouraged delegates to use SIE 2026 as a platform to build new connections, explore new markets and forge partnerships that will deliver lasting value for Sabah and its regional partners.
Building an Outward Looking Economy
Speaking at the SIE Welcome Dinner on behalf of Yang Amat Berhormat Datuk Seri Panglima Haji Hajiji bin Haji Noor, Chief Minister of Sabah, Yang Berhormat Datuk Seri Panglima Masidi Manjun, Minister of Finance of Sabah, described the gathering as more than a formal welcome, but an opportunity to bring Sabah businesses, international investors and regional partners together for meaningful exchanges and future collaboration.
He reaffirmed Sabah’s ambition to build a more diversified, resilient and sustainable economy by creating greater value through downstream industries, technology transfer, innovation, skills development and stronger participation by local businesses.
Masidi also highlighted Sabah’s vast potential in renewable energy, the oil palm downstream sector and the blue economy, noting that the state’s extensive marine resources, largest marine parks and significant mangrove reserves position Sabah as a leader in sustainable economic development. He emphasised the potential to transform Sabah’s natural strengths into higher value industries and new employment opportunities.
With its proximity to Brunei Darussalam, Indonesia and the Philippines, together with its connections to the wider Asia Pacific region, Masidi said Sabah is well positioned to strengthen regional trade and investment through BIMP-EAGA.
Advancing Regional Collaboration Through BIMP-EAGA
A defining highlight of SIE 2026 was the 3rd BIMP-EAGA Trade, Investment and Halal Conference, which brought together policymakers, industry leaders and businesses from Brunei Darussalam, Indonesia, Malaysia and the Philippines to explore how stronger regional collaboration can create greater economic value.
Held under the theme “Connecting Markets, Scaling Value,” the conference focused on strengthening regional value chains, expanding halal trade and deepening cross-border partnerships.
Opening the conference, Datuk Susan Chang, Chairperson of MICCI Sabah and Country Director of the BIMP-EAGA Business Council, called for businesses to move beyond working in silos, emphasising that the region’s greatest opportunities lie in connecting markets, building partnerships and growing together.
A key highlight was the keynote by The Hon. Brigadier General Datuk Haji Al-Hambra Tun Juhar, Deputy Speaker of the Sabah State Legislative Assembly, who introduced Sabah’s Triangle of Success: Production, Gateway and Value Add as a roadmap for positioning the state as the halal gateway of BIMP-EAGA.
He urged businesses and policymakers to build on Sabah’s existing strengths in agriculture, fisheries, food production, ports and regional connectivity, while ensuring more value is retained locally through processing, branding and exporting from Sabah.
The conference concluded with a forward looking discussion on strengthening halal trade, regional supply chains and investment collaboration, reinforcing the message that BIMP-EAGA’s greatest opportunity lies not simply in producing or trading more, but in creating greater value by growing together as an interconnected region.
Leadership That Creates Value
The Sabah International Business Luncheon Talk (SIBLT) added another dimension to the programme, with Tan Sri Dato’ Seri Dr Sir Jeffrey Cheah, Founder and Chairman of Sunway Group, sharing leadership lessons from overcoming two near bankruptcies to building a RM76 billion conglomerate.
His reflections on resilience, courage and purpose resonated with nearly 700 participants, reminding them that entrepreneurship is not solely about creating wealth. It is also about creating opportunities, generating employment, developing talent, supporting innovation, strengthening communities and building enterprises that contribute to society.
Tan Sri Jeffrey’s story reflects the kind of entrepreneurship Sabah seeks to foster: businesses that are ambitious yet responsible, innovative yet inclusive, and competitive yet sustainable. Ultimately, leadership is not only about building successful enterprises, but about creating lasting value that extends beyond the business itself and benefits the wider community.
Shaping a Shared Vision for Sabah
Across the various programmes, one message remained consistent: Sabah’s future will be shaped through stronger partnerships, innovation and regional collaboration.
From investment discussions and policy dialogues to business matching and networking opportunities, SIE 2026 demonstrated Sabah’s readiness to connect local businesses with regional and global markets while advancing the Sabah Maju Jaya development agenda.
More importantly, the expo reflected Sabah’s ambition to move beyond being a destination for investment towards becoming a regional business hub, where local strengths, international capital, technology, talent and partnerships come together to create greater value.
As the curtain falls on the 11th edition of SIE, the relationships forged throughout the week are expected to continue beyond the exhibition halls, opening new opportunities for trade, investment, innovation and shared growth.
SIE 2026 has reaffirmed one simple message:
