Kota Kinabalu is the main industrial and commercial center for Sabah. Key business sectors in Sabah include palm oil, agriculture, and the fishing industry, which has grown significantly and is now modern and progressive. Timber, once the primary export product, has long been replaced by these industries.
As a highly tourist-friendly destination, Kota Kinabalu and Sabah are increasingly focusing on the leisure and tourism industry. This is driving the development of more permanent parks and forest reserves to attract visitors. With strategic planning, the area aims to become a top choice for tourists worldwide, leveraging an effective internet strategy.
Industry Park & Trade Fairs
To bolster Kota Kinabalu as the main growth center in East Malaysia, the 8,320-acre Kota Kinabalu Industrial Park (KKIP) in Sepanggar is central to boosting industrial and commercial activities. KKIP is developing specific industrial clusters, including automotive, halal and food manufacturing, green technology, aerospace, and logistics, in line with the expansion of the Sepanggar Bay Container Port, expected to be completed in 2025 .
Kota Kinabalu hosts numerous national, regional, and international trade fairs, conferences, and events, such as the Asia Pacific Tourism Conference and the biennial Sabah International Expo. Most of these events are typically held at the Sutera Harbour Resort.