TOTAL sales of handicraft in Sarawak have topped RM17mil as of October, beating its target of RM15.5mil.
Datuk Seri Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah said Perbadanan Kemajuan Kraftangan Malaysia, Sarawak Branch reported that the total sales for 2019 was RM31mil compared to RM15.7mil in 2021, with about 15 per cent from online sales.
“The number of registered full-time producers has also increased from 951 in 2019 to 1,143 in 2022,” he said when delivering his winding-up speech at the Sarawak Legislative Assembly (DUN) sitting yesterday.
The Malaysian handicraft industry also saw a drop during the period with total sales in 2021 at RM197.7mil compared to RM519.7mil in 2019.
For 2022, RM211mil in sales was recorded as of September.
The Minister for Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts said the ministry, through Sarawak Craft Council and other agencies related to the development of handicraft, came up with a comprehensive strategy under the Post Covid-19 Development Strategy (PCDS) 2030 and other initiatives to kick-start and accelerate the industry.
He said among the initiatives are; to organise, in collaboration with Perbadanan Kemajuan Kraftangan Malaysia, Sarawak Branch, other agencies and stakeholders, scheduled handicraft bazaars throughout the state to create opportunities for handicraft producers to promote and sell their products; to organise capacity building programmes to enhance production skills, product quality and interest in the industry; to work closely with other agencies, non-governmental organisations and individuals at national, regional and international level in developing and promoting high quality handicrafts to the global market; and to collaborate with other agencies and individuals to design and produce new handicrafts to increase the product range.
