Sabah is pitching itself as an Asia-Pacific hub for impact investing, betting that its forests, biodiversity and natural resources can become drivers of economic growth as it seeks private capital for sustainable development. — Picture by Firdaus Latif
By Julia Chan
First Published: Monday, 13 Jul 2026 11:44 AM MYT
KOTA KINABALU, July 13 — Sabah is pitching itself as an Asia-Pacific hub for impact investing, betting that its forests, biodiversity and natural resources can become drivers of economic growth as it seeks private capital for sustainable development.
Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor said Sabah was positioning itself as one of the region’s leading destinations for sustainable investment and invited investors to establish long-term partnerships that could deliver measurable social and environmental benefits alongside financial returns.
“Sabah’s economic transformation has been remarkable. We have grown from an economy rooted primarily in the primary sectors into a multifaceted powerhouse,” said Hajiji in his speech read by Deputy Chief Minister II Datuk Seri Masidi Manjun at the Sabah Asia-Pacific Impact Investing for Sustainable Development Summit here.
“As we align with Malaysia’s broader economic objectives, our commitment to growth remains unwavering. Sabah is open for business,” he said.
The two-day summit, attended by investors, policymakers, financial institutions and conservation experts, focuses on areas including green finance, sustainable tourism, blue economy initiatives, renewable energy, nature-positive agriculture and indigenous community development.
Hajiji said impact investing had become increasingly important as governments sought new ways to finance development without compromising environmental sustainability.
“We recognise that impact investing, at its core, means deploying capital into investments that generate measurable social and environmental benefits alongside a financial return.
“Sabah looks forward to investors who can blend expertise, experience and funding to advance inclusive, social and ecological development with real results,” he said.
Hajiji claimed that long before sustainability became an international agenda, Sabah had already been protecting its forests, oceans, wildlife, and some of the richest ecosystems in the region.
“Sabah has contributed, not only in words but through policy, land stewardship, and real sacrifice.
“Today, we are proud that almost 30 per cent of Sabah’s landmass is under Totally Protected Areas. We also maintain our status as a net carbon sink (carbon-negative state) based on greenhouse gas inventory data, supported by the significant forested areas that strengthen the nation’s carbon-absorption capacity.
“Our inclusive forest management approach, built with local communities, enables us to strike a balance between environmental conservation and the socio-economic well-being of our people,” he said.
At the same time, Hajiji acknowledged that Sabah continues to face pressing development needs, including improving road connectivity, electricity supply, water infrastructure and economic opportunities for its people.
“We need better roads, more reliable electricity, cleaner water and greater economic opportunity. Our people require tangible improvements in livelihoods.
“The question before us is not sustainability or development. It is how we build and practise an unexplored model where sustainability becomes the engine of real economic growth.
“That is the central challenge and the central opportunity for my administration,” he said.
Hajiji said the Asia-Pacific region was well positioned to lead the next phase of sustainable investment, adding that forums such as the summit could help forge international partnerships in areas such as technology, green energy and sustainable development.
He also thanked the George Town Institute of Open and Advanced Studies (GIOAS) at Wawasan Open University for jointly organising the summit with the Sabah government through the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Environment.
Julia Chan
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