KOTA KINABALU: Singapore is prepared to assist Sabah to develop its vocational skills training for its youths to meet the growing needs of the industry.

Singapore Deputy Prime Minister Teo Chee Hean said that they were keen to assist Sabah in technical and vocational education in efforts to build up skills for state youths to meet the needs of the state's industries.

Teo, who was speaking at a joint press conference with Chief Minister Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal on Saturday (Sept 8), said that technical education was among matters discussed during their meeting.

He said that he had invited Shafie and state officials to visit Singapore to further discuss about working together on technical skills development for the state youths.

Teo, who is on the last leg of his visit to Malaysia, said that they were also looking at enhancing economic cooperation between Singapore and Sabah through trade, investments and tourism.

On tourism, Teo also noted that Singaporeans were more familiar with Kota Kinabalu and Mount Kinabalu and believed that there were more attractions in Sandakan, Semporna and Tawau in the east coast of Sabah.

"I was briefed on the tourism developments in the east coast," he said.

Shafie, meanwhile, said that he would be sending a team to Singapore to learn about Singapore's advance technical know-how on vocational education, as the state was putting more impetus towards providing skills for local youths.

"We have set up our own education department to help develop the right skills set for youths to meet industry needs," he added.

Shafie said they also discussed potential investments by Singapore in the tourism industry in Sabah, as the state believed that it was important to spread out investments from different countries.

Teo, whose working visit to Malaysia began on Tuesday (Sept 4) in Kuala Lumpur, later visited the Sepangar naval base and will return to Singapore on Sunday (Sept 9).