KOTA KINABALU  Sabah's total trade of RM36.7 billion for the period of January-August this year contributes 4.6 per cent of the nation's total trade.

International Trade and Industry Tan Sri Muhyiddin said the State's exports also grew by 75 per cent to RM28.1b while imports rose by 28.6 per cent to RM8.6b during the period.

With such an attractive scenario, he said the Federal Government has taken various initiatives to promote investments in Sabah under the Ninth Malaysia Plan (9MP).

"The initiatives include the provision of funds for the construction of the Sepulut-Kalabakan Road and Sipitang-Tenom Road to further improve linkages to the hinterland of Sabah which will better support agricultural development," he said at the closing of the five-day 5th Sabah International Expo (SIE) 2008 at 1Borneo, Sunday.

He said that the initiatives also include the development of a palm oil industrial cluster that will generate more downstream processing of palm oil in the State and measures to attain self-sufficiency in rice and beef production.

The rural industries such as handicraft, forest-based, ceramic, textile and metal-based projects, he said would also be further developed.

In addition, he said that the initiatives would focus on new agricultural activities that include food processing into semi and finished products so as to increase the income of the rural population.

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