BIGSABAH Trade Connect

Beyond Borders -
Expanding ASEAN Trade Linkages

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BIGSABAH Trade Connect is a high-impact regional trade forum designed to foster greater cross-border collaboration, market access, and policy dialogue between public and private sector stakeholders across ASEAN and beyond.

Held as the official pre-day programme to BIGSABAH Sale 2025, this full-day forum brings together policymakers, trade enablers, certification bodies, regional delegations, and SMEs to explore practical solutions and real-world opportunities that can strengthen Sabah’s role in the ASEAN supply and trade ecosystem.

This initiative is anchored by SICC’s mission to position Sabah not only as a destination for tourism and events; but also as a rising regional trade and business hub within the East ASEAN region.

Why BIGSABAH Trade Connect?

The creation of BIGSABAH Trade Connect is driven by three core needs:

Bridge the Trade Gap Many SMEs local and regional struggle to access new markets due to limited understanding of trade regulations, branding strategies, and certification requirements. This forum bridges that knowledge and access gap.

Strengthen Regional Linkages With Sabah’s strategic location between Brunei, Indonesia, the Philippines, and Peninsular Malaysia, there is a unique opportunity to facilitate bilateral and multilateral trade opportunities, especially within the East ASEAN region.

Support Inclusive Growth The forum promotes sustainable and inclusive economic participation by supporting SME development, women-led enterprises, halal exporters, and the creative economy—sectors often underrepresented in traditional trade platforms.

Audiences

BIGSABAH Trade Connect is designed for:

SMEs & MSMEs seeking to expand into new markets, access government incentives, and learn from trade experts.
Government agencies involved in trade, SME development, halal regulation, and cross-border cooperation.
Trade & investment promotion bodies looking to showcase their markets and connect with potential partners.
Business associations supporting regional economic growth.
Export-ready enterprises in key sectors such as F&B, wellness, lifestyle, halal goods, and creative industries.
Academia & policy think tanks with an interest in ASEAN economic integration.

Why Regional Expansion Matters

ASEAN is shifting toward intra-regional trade, and East ASEAN economies (Sabah, Kalimantan, North Sulawesi, Mindanao) hold untapped potential for cross-border collaboration.
Post-pandemic trade recovery hinges on innovation, digitalisation, and inclusive market access especially for SMEs.
The halal economy, wellness exports, and creative services are high-growth sectors where Sabah and neighbouring regions have complementary strengths.
Strategic forums like BIGSABAH Trade Connect provide the neutral ground for public-private cooperation, business matching, and long-term trade linkages.

B2B TRADE MATCHING

30 October 2025 | 1:45 PM – 3:30 PM

Format : Curated B2B Meetings & Open Networking

Target Participation : Up to 100 pre-registered SMEs and trade partners

Objective

The B2B Trade Matching segment of BIGSABAH Trade Connect is designed to translate dialogue into opportunity. It serves as a practical platform for SMEs to meet, connect, and initiate business discussions with regional and international trade partners, agencies, and service providers.

This session supports our goal of enhancing real market access, particularly for export-ready and growth-stage SMEs from across East ASEAN and Asia Pacific.

Structure & Format

The B2B session will be structured into two key formats to ensure effectiveness and flexibility.

CURATED ONE-TO-ONE BUSINESS MATCHING (By Appointment)

Format : 15–20 minute time slots per match

Location : Pre-assigned meeting tables based on sector or interest

Matching Criteria : Based on pre-submitted SME profiles, sector alignment, product category, and export readiness

Facilitation : Each SME will receive a shortlist of matched buyers or partners, curated by the organising team

Sectors Covered

Food & Beverage (F&B)
Halal Products
Wellness & Herbal
Lifestyle & Handicrafts
Creative & Media Services
Logistics & Distribution

Outcome : SMEs initiate potential commercial or strategic partnerships with buyers, distributors, agents, or collaborators

Expected Outcomes

Initiation of commercial discussions and cross-border partnerships
Identification of new distributors, sourcing partners, or OEM producers
Strengthened linkages between Sabah-based SMEs and the wider ASEAN market
Foundation for long-term collaboration agreements, facilitated by trade bodies

SME Participation Guidelines

Eligibility : Limited to 100 SMEs who are participating in the BIGSABAH Sale 2025

Priority will be given to SMEs who:

Are export-ready or currently exporting
Represent high-growth potential sectors
Submit full company profiles and product/service information before 1 October 2025

How to Register?

Submit your form and documents to clara.lim@siccsabah.com with the email subject line: BIGSABAH Sale B2B Registration.

Note:

The BIGSABAH Trade Connect 2025 programme, including the B2B Trade Matching session, is currently in development and subject to final confirmation. All scheduled activities, session details, and participation formats may be revised by the organiser. Updates will be communicated in due course.

Date : Saturday, 1 November 2025
Time : 09:00am to 02:00pm
Venue : Kinabalu Room, Level 5, SICC
Format : Dialogue - theatre-style sitting (B2B session)

Stay Tuned for More Updates!

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