Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Seri Dr Jeffrey Kitingan said Sabah’s GDP per capita is at a meagre $6,000 USD, falling far behind the nation’s GDP per capita of $12,000 USD. He explained that Sabah attracts RM30 billion worth of foreign direct investments, but needed about RM46 billion to RM 48 billion worth of investments to reach its target GDP per capita of $12,000 USD.
“We need to have extraordinary policies. If we continue doing the usual things, there will be no change, so we must think of a way to bring in results that was not thought of before,” he said. During the Sabah International Business and Economic Summit last year, Jeffrey said Sabah is expected to collect an annual revenue of RM2.2 billion to RM5.6 billion from carbon trading and other natural asset monetising deals.