The Sabah Housing and Real Estate Developers Association (SHAREDA) and Malaysia-China Chamber of Commerce (MCCC) Sabah branch will form a common platform to promote bilateral business opportunities between Sabah and China.

Newly-minted SHAREDA president Chew Sang Hai said: "We want to woo investors from China to come to Sabah in the form of capital investment where we can work together to develop the property and real estate sector particularly in the high-value segment.”

"At the same time, we will also be working together with MCCC to promote the property of Sabah to the China market" said Chew during a courtesy call on MCCC Sabah branch's president Datuk Frankie Liew at their office premises here yesterday.

Besides that, he believes the China's investors can also explore the opportunities of investing in high-end hotel and manufacturing sector.

And since there is a high demand for building material in the state especially cement in the construction industry, Chew encouraged the government to get investors from China to open cement manufacturing plant in Sabah.

"The property and real estate sector need about 1.5 million tonnes of cement per year" disclosed Chew. And according to SHAREDA research, he said Sabah is lacking in cement manufacturing facilities.

"At the moment, we only have a grinding facility in Sepanggar but only 50 percent was utilised, there is still room for expansion. And a cement packaging facility in Lahad Datu" said Chew.

"At the moment we import the crinkle and grind it here before packaging. But these two processes can be done locally if we set up the plants here as it will also help us to save cost and create job opportunities for the locals" he added.

Other than investments, Chew said SHAREDA will ask MCCC to organise a business familiarisation trip to China to foster a closer rapport with their counterpart over there.

According to Liew, it takes years to establish trust and confidence if one want to develop their business venture with China's investors.

"It is quite challenging to woo investors from China as nowadays everybody is eyeing at their strong economic and financial standing.

"We need to build a friendship with them to gradually develop the trust. Of course, we must have a proven track record" said Liew.

Also present during the meeting were the executive committee members of both SHAREDA and MCCC.