KUCHING: The Sarawak Government wants the cottage industry and village industry to be managed well so that they can continue to produce local products especially heritage products to meet demand.
Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg said as such the state government was going to support these industries in terms of funding and marketing.
“As you know our heritage products are being promoted in Mydin supermarket here and Mydin is also interested in placing these products at its other supermarkets in Semenanjung Malaysia.
“This means that there is an increase in demand for these products and with that the supply must increase too.
“Therefore, we will set up the cottage industry in villages so that these can boost the small and medium industries,” he said.
He said this during the Old Kuching Smart Heritage’s (OKSHE) appreciation ceremony at Borneo Convention Centre Kuching (BCCK) on Friday evening (Jan 28).
The chief minister added that the building at Vista Tunku was purchased with the purpose to promote the state’s heritage products.
“Certainly, people are attracted to our heritage products. Before this, I went to Italy with our Malaysian Ambassadors to Italy and the Vatican, and we presented the delegates’ songket and beaded shoes as souvenirs.
“And I think that the sales of these products have generated nearly half a million because people like them,” he said.
Abang Johari also mentioned that more Sarawakian students could be trained in weaving songket under the courses offered at CENTEXS.
Earlier, Deputy State Secretary (Performance and Service Delivery Transformation) Datuk Dr Sabariah Putit mentioned that various initiatives have been put in place to ensure the state’s heritage foods continue to be available in the market.
“Among others, is the collaboration with UNIMAS and Persatuan Produk Warisan N8 to market heritage products at Mydin Vista Tunku supermarket.
“A total of 12 types of heritage products have successfully entered the Mydin market, including the Mydin Semariang supermarket,” she said.
Through CENTEXS Commercial, Mydin supermarket has provided the opportunity to take in heritage products in 69 product categories in respective branches throughout Malaysia.
“The Ministry of International Trade, Industry and Investment (MITI) has appointed CENTEXS Commercial as the marketing aim to market heritage products and Sarawak Made Product through digital and physical platforms,” said Sabariah.
