KUCHING: In the coming new year, the Dayak Chamber of Commerce and Industry (DCCI) looks forward to introducing new opportunities for the Bumiputera business community, especially those in the rural regions.
Its president Datuk Leonard Martin Uning said this included bringing more rural Bumiputera businesses into the urban environment such as Kuching, Miri, Sibu, and other cities.
“Hopefully, once the movement restrictions are lifted, these rural businesses will be able to ‘invade’ Kuching and the big towns, bringing products and offering services that the urban areas require,” he told New Sarawak Tribune.
He gave the example of providing specialised care services for senior citizens, cleaning services, and other professional services to meet the growing demands of the urban population.
Highlighting the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic, he emphasised the need to revive and recover businesses in the coming year.
“The recovery period for companies would vary from six months to a year, or even more than a year.”
He said the rural Dayak business community, particularly those in the tourism industry such as homestay operators and tour operators in rural areas, had suffered with some even shutting their businesses.
“We have met with Tourism, Arts and Culture Minister Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah to try to find out how these people can be helped in the coming year.”
He said the construction industry had also been heavily impacted due to the limited movement of materials and people, as well as restrictions on foreign workers.
He said a refreshing hope for Sarawakians next year was the availability of Covid-19 vaccines, which Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg had assured would be provided free for all Sarawakians.
“Another thing we can look forward to next year is the excitement of the possible Sarawak State Election,” he said, adding that some of DCCI’s members may be attracted to become candidates.
