KUALA LUMPUR – The proposed space launch site in Sabah is set to establish Malaysia as a frontrunner in technological advancement within ASEAN, said Ukraine’s Deputy Economy Minister Taras Kachka.
During a media conference today, Kachka noted that the project is expected to generate employment opportunities and attract talent from around the world, significantly contributing to the growth of Malaysia’s aviation and aerospace industries.
“Every high-tech initiative not only creates job prospects but also facilitates technology transfer, retaining skilled engineers in the country,” he explained.
He expressed that a space launch facility in Malaysia would encourage global participation, thereby enhancing the nation’s status as a technological leader in the region.
Last year, the Sabah government formalised a partnership with both Ukrainian and local companies to conduct a feasibility study for the proposed facility, although Kachka did not reveal the project’s financial details.
On the progress of the feasibility study, he highlighted the necessity of evaluating various factors, including economic viability, environmental impacts, and long-term benefits.
“I hope the Sabah government will demonstrate the political will to advance this project. Furthermore, adequate resources, expertise, and a skilled workforce will be essential,” he said.
In June this year, an agreement was established to evaluate the feasibility of the Sabah International Space Launch Industry Centre.
The study, anticipated to last between six to twelve months, will investigate various factors such as area usability, infrastructure adequacy, safety considerations, and the technical requirements for constructing and operating the centre.
A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed between Sabah’s Science, Technology, and Innovation body, Sovereign Segalang (SSSB), and Ukraine’s Yuzhnoye State Design Office (YSOD) during the Sabah Science Awards ceremony, with all associated costs covered by the two parties.
At the time, Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor said that if realised, this facility would mark Malaysia as the ninth country worldwide to host a space launch site, contributing to the establishment of 300 to 500 related companies and creating around 90 high-income jobs, alongside 5,000 employment opportunities.
He highlighted Sabah’s geographical advantage, which facilitates cost-effective launches and direct access to international space without infringing on Indonesian territory. The final approval for the project will depend on the outcomes of the feasibility study and subsequent endorsements from both the state and Federal Cabinets.
Halal industry
Amid the ongoing conflict with Russia, the Ukrainian government is actively pursuing trade recovery, recently engaging in talks with Malaysia during Kachka’s two-day visit.
This dialogue, which began five years ago, culminated in the inaugural Joint Trade Committee meeting, focusing on expanding markets for halal-certified products.
Kachka noted that Ukraine has a halal certification centre in Kyiv, with plans for two more, and believes Ukrainian halal certification is recognised by Malaysian authorities, creating new collaboration opportunities.
Trade relations between Ukraine and Malaysia currently rank in the second tier, with bilateral trade around USD300 million—about 90% of pre-war levels.
Kachka attributed this stability to the restoration of normal navigation in Ukrainian ports and the strategic shift to new trade routes due to the Russian blockade.
He indicated that Ukrainian exports to Malaysia, primarily agricultural products like sunflower oil and wheat, are essential for global food security, with trade between the two nations increasing significantly to RM640.33 million from January to September 2024, a 151.2% rise year-on-year.
Denys Mykhailiuk, interim charge d’affaires at the Ukrainian Embassy in Kuala Lumpur, added that Ukraine has one Jakim-recognised halal certification centre located in Kyiv, with plans to establish at least two additional centres.
He mentioned the prior travel restrictions during wartime that hindered Jakim officials from visiting Ukraine, but expressed hope that the Malaysian Foreign Ministry would permit visits to the new centres. – November 2, 2024