The establishment of the Center for Economic Development and Policy (CEDP) at the Faculty of Business, Economics, and Accountancy (FBEA), Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS), signifies UMS’s commitment to driving impactful and meaningful research.

UMS Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Datuk Dr. Kasim Hj. Mansor, emphasized that CEDP is uniquely positioned to provide critical research input to enhance policymaking at both the state and national levels.

“This center must expand its partnerships with government agencies, industry players, and international institutions to create a robust ecosystem that drives impactful solutions for Sabah and Malaysia.

“I have high hopes for CEDP to become a catalyst for innovative thinking, collaborative research, and evidence-based policy development,” he said.

He conveyed these remarks during his speech at the Launch Ceremony of CEDP and the Seminar on Contemporary Economics held at Hotelab, FBEA.

The speech was delivered on his behalf by FBEA Dean, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Mohd Rahimie Abd. Karim.

Commenting on the organization of the economics seminar, Kasim stated that the initiative represents a convergence of ideas, efforts, and aspirations to address pressing economic challenges of the time.

“Sabah faces numerous economic challenges, including poverty and the need for sustainable economic growth.

“This is an opportunity to discuss emerging economic challenges, introduce new ideas, and foster collaborations that will help navigate the evolving economic landscape,” he remarked.

He added that the initiative also holds the potential to bridge the gap between research and actionable policies to tackle the issues discussed.

The event also featured a Panel Discussion involving two invited panelists: the Chief Executive of the Sabah Economic Development and Investment Authority (SEDIA), Datuk Seri Panglima Hashim Paijan, and the Deputy Director of the Sabah State Economic Planning Unit, Tseu Kei Yue.