KOTA KINABALU: The Sabah government assures assistance to local players and Sabah companies in getting involved in the oil and gas industry, said assistant to the Chief Minister Datuk Nizam Titingan.
He added that the government has set up Sabah Maju Jaya Energy company, which aims to tap on business opportunities through Petronas.
"We will give the opportunity to companies through training and briefing so that the local entrepreneurs would be open to learn from the experience of other successful companies.
"I am confident that with the government's support and assistance, we can strengthen the position of local companies on the international stage," he said during the launch of Beaufort Marine Company at the Sabah International Convention Centre.
Nizam said the company, which is a Sabah-based company for Offshore Support Vessels (OSV) industry, owns a platform supply vessel (PSV) that is the biggest and with the most advanced technology in Sabah.
Beaufort Marine has also engaged the technical support services of Belait Shipping Co Sdn Bhd that has over 25 years of experience in this field to enhance and further advance the company's capabilities to expand its business to a higher level.
This can further invigorate the OSV industry in Malaysia, especially in the waters of Sabah and Sarawak.
Besides that, the company has also been awarded a two-and-a-half-year contract with Shell Sarawak.
"This is a significant achievement that the state should be proud of, as it demonstrates external trust in our local companies' ability to compete with long-established companies in this field.
"There are fewer than 10 local Sabahan companies that have been registered and are actively engaged in the OSV industry. This indicates that Beaufort Marine is among the pioneers and key players in this industry in our state.
"The sustainability and boldness of the company's management to continue advancing and moving forward should be emulated by other Bumiputera companies," said Nizam.
Present at the event was Beaufort Marine managing director Muhammad Rafiuddin Gulistan.