As part of this process a number of reciprocal visits were organised by the City of Rockingham, on behalf of the South West Metropolitan Perth Corridor and the City of Kota Kinabalu (DBKK), representing Sabah which included business interest representation. The South West Metropolitan Perth contingent was ably supported by the Western Australian Department of Industry and Resources, the Australian High Commission in Malaysia and Austrade.

A Friendship City agreement between the City of Rockingham and the City of Kota Kinabalu DBKK has been signed which will underpin the necessary foundations for trade between firms in the two regions. Further, it is apparent that each region has services and products that are sought in each other’s markets, thus confirming the potential for productive commercial relationships.

The South West Group and its partners have always envisaged that bilateral trade would best be enabled by the establishment of trade centres in both the South West Metropolitan Perth Corridor and Sabah. To this end meetings were held with senior government, commercial and industry officials in both Perth and Sabah, ultimately culminating in a unanimous agreement to advance the project.