Club Mediterranee or (Club Med), has expressed keen interest in investing and developing a resort in Sabah.

A four-member delegation from the French Resorts company led by its Chief Development Officer, Gregory Lanter, met up with Chief Minister Datuk Seri Shafie Apdal, on the sidelines of the State Assembly sitting, Tuesday. Also present was Deputy Chief Minister cum Minister of Tourism, Culture and Environment, Datuk Christina Liew.

Others were Sebastien Favre (Regional Development Manager), Kristin Thorsteins (Vice-President of Development, East and South Asia & Pacific) and Tatiana Poujol (Design Manager and Project Adviser, Southeast Asia & Pacific) from Singapore-based Vacances Pte Ltd, which is the wholly-owned entity of Club Med in Asia, operating under the Club Med brand name.

"We have strong faith in Sabah as a destination for Club Med," Lanter said.

He said the combination of excellent accessibility from Club Med's main source markets, exceptional natural environment and endless recreational options makes Sabah a natural destination for Club Med.

Lanter stressed that Malaysia holds a special place in the history of Club Med as it is the first country to welcome a Club Med resort in Asia, namely Club Med Cherating which has been operating for nearly 40 years. "Securing a second location in Malaysia is long overdue and this should be in Sabah," he said.

He assured the CM that the key to Club Med's development strategy is sustainability which encompasses environmentally-friendly construction, local sourcing and contributing positively to the local community through the creation of employment and development opportunities.