The Malaysian state of Sabah (northern Borneo) is considering the development of a silica-based industry with the assistance of Slovakia“s glass industry, Chief Minister Datuk Seri Musa Aman said 10 …
The Malaysian state of Sabah (northern Borneo) is considering the development of a silica-based industry with the assistance of Slovakia“s glass industry, Chief Minister Datuk Seri Musa Aman said 10 October 2004. On his return from a two-week trade and investment mission to five Eastern European countries, Musa said a memorandum-of-understanding (MOU) had been signed to create the framework for the Slovak party to look into the possibility of developing the glass industry in Sabah. At the signing, Sabah was represented by the Sabah Economic Development Corporation (SEDCO), Federation of Sabah Manufacturers (FSM) and Sabah Bumiputera Chamber of Commerce (SBCC) while Slovakia was represented by the Slovak Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Bratislava Regional Chamber and the Union of Glass Industry of the Slovak Republic. The delegation from Sabah was impressed by the capability of the Slovakian glass industry, which could produce a range of glass and crystal products at low cost, Musa told reporters. He also said that the representatives of the Slovak glass industry were prepared to visit the state to look into the feasibility of such an industry there. Musa said Sabah was keen to get involved in this value-added industry as it has a deposit of 90 million tonnes of silica sand that could be used as raw material for glass. Musa led a 33-member delegation of officials from the public and private sectors from 26 September 2004 until 10 October 2004 to attract investment from and promote trade with Croatia, Hungary, Slovakia, the Czech Republic and Poland.