KUCHING: The fourth edition of Sarawak Timber & SMEs Expo has generated direct sales of around RM500,000 with about 10,000 registered visitors.
According to Entrepreneur and Small, Medium Enterprise (SME) Development Assistant Minister Datuk Mohd Naroden Majais, the amount (RM500,000) was not the final figure of the direct sales.
“Initially we targeted RM7 million direct sales for this year’s expo but we have yet to reach the amount. So far, we have generated RM500,000 but this is only from the SMEs. This is excluding the total amount of direct sales from the timber companies.
“Of course, based on the inquiries and the recorded bookings, the timber companies may be contributing higher value than the SMEs. We will only know the final amount when the transactions are fully completed and after the expo ends at 9pm tonight,” he told a press conference at the venue yesterday evening.
Naroden stressed that the success of the event should not be purely based on the direct sales because what was more important was the awareness on the expo itself.
“The direct sales are only a success for the short term but in the long term, it is important for us to have more people coming in to show their interest in the timber industry as well as to participate in potential businesses. We want the participants to successfully widen their network and to secure contracts for their business,” he said.
“We hope as time goes by, the SMEs will grow and able to contribute to the state’s revenue. We should see SMEs as a driving force to unite the business communities including those from other territories,” he said.
Naroden said that the use of technology was important to spur the economic growth in the state.
“Technology will enable us in meeting the requirements of bigger demands in the foreign markets. Thus, everyone should work closely so that we can capitalise on the strength of one another to succeed.”
Jointly organised by Sarawak Timber Industry Development Corporation (STIDC) and Ministry of Industrial and Entrepreneur Development (MIED), the expo was held at Borneo Convention Centre Kuching (BCCK) starting from June 27 and ended yesterday.
The expo successfully gathered 341 exhibitors comprising of local and foreign entrepreneurs including Indonesia, Japan, Brunei Darussalam, Sabah and Peninsular Malaysia with a total of 541 booths.
Naroden revealed that the fifth expo is expected to be held in June 2021 at the same venue.
Yesterday witnessed the exchange of four Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) between: NF Umar Enterprise and Leaf Healthy Food; Anjaad Borneo Sdn Bhd and CT Manja Bidara; Elza Elma Enterprise and Maria Pesona Beauty Herbs; and Berau by Benak Raya and Mahazah Mahani Enterprise.
Naroden said those MoUs signed on the first day of the expo (June 27) were expected to generate targeted sales of RM223 million among the timber-based groups.
