KOTA KINABALU: The Ministry of Industrial Development and Entrepreneurship (MIDE)  plans to hold four Micro, Small and Medium Entreprise Carnivals this year. 

Permanent Secretary Datuk Thomas Logijin said the carnivals would be held in Tawau,  Tuaran, Kudat and Keningau. 

In his briefing in conjunction with Chief Minister Datuk Seri Panglima Haji Hajiji Haji  Noor’s working visit to MIDE, Logijin said there were 8,031 SME entrepreneurs currently  registered with the Department of Industrial Development and Research (DIDR) of  MIDE. 

He said various programmes have been drawn up to assist the SMEs in Sabah, such as  the SME-Up programme, entrepreneur development course, Buy Sabah Products  campaign, marketing and promotion of Sabah SME products at the local supermarkets,  Bataras, Kedai Mesra Petronas and SMEs Product Centres. 

He said the ministry has also identified 87 entrepreneurs to participate in various trade  and world expositions abroad to expose their products to the international market this  year. 

Wrapping up his working visit to all ministries, Hajiji in response commended MIDE for  its good efforts to bring foreign and domestic investments to Sabah as well as to  generate income for the Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs). 

"This Ministry is important because it generates income for the state, and based on the  briefings today, it seems they are working very hard in line with the Hala Tuju Sabah  Maju Jaya," he said. 

"What is important is that all the planning must be done systematically, and at the same  time, it must not only be profitable for the bigger companies but also for the SMEs," he  said. 

The Chief Minister wants the MIDE to continue focusing on developing local SMEs and  assisting them in getting exposure at the international level.

He also instructed the Ministry to follow through on the proposed three new industrial  parks in Kudat, Beaufort, and Kota Belud. 

"Sabah will be able to improve its status when these new industrial parks are up and  running," he said. 

The Chief Minister was also briefed by the respective heads of agencies under MIDE,  such as the Sabah Economic Development Corporation (Sedco), KKIP Sdn Bhd, Palm  Oil Industrial Cluster (POIC) Lahad Datu, Sabah Oil and Gas Development Corporation  (SOGDC), Invest Sabah Berhad and Sabah Trade and Tourism Office Singapore 

(STTOS). 

Present were Minister of Industrial Development and Entrepreneurship Datuk Phoong  Jin Zhe, Finance Minister Datuk Seri Panglima Masidi Manjun, Rural Development  Minister Datuk Jahid Jahim, assistant ministers and head of departments and agencies.  

Ends