KUCHING: Sarawak has the potential to produce world-renowned entrepreneurs like Mark Zuckerberg, Bill Gates and Jack Ma, said Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi (Dr) Abang Johari Tun Openg. He added that the State has more advantage compared to other parts of the world such as the vast land, agriculture, climate as well as its location which lies in the middle of the global engine of growth.
“We have all the advantages but if the entrepreneur has no innovative ideas, creativity, then they will only stay at one level.
“Creativity is something which results from a vision and by doing a lot of research, you can create something new by adding value to the fundamentals to create new products,” he said during the launching of Borneo Entrepreneur & Investment Convention (BEIC)2018 at KTS Garden here yesterday. Abang Johari emphasised that creativity must exists in an entrepreneur’s mind that interconnects with innovation which the mind translates into reality.
“Nowadays, the mindset of the entrepreneur is where the visuals in your mind translate into reality. Entrepreneurs must have creativity and I am convinced that we can mold our own people into entrepreneurs like Mark Zuckerberg, Bill Gates and Jack Ma,” he said.
He added that the business landscape has changed due to technology and in line with the change, the government has been working to upgrade internet facilities in the State.
“The digital economic impact could not be avoided. EBay has started this transformation on how people sell their products online,” he said. Abang Johari also posed that the present concern would be how entrepreneurs will identify the right products and position them internationally.
“The State government under Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) is emphasising on this direction and it must also benefit all of our entrepreneurs. “Sarawak entrepreneurs must have ‘bridges’ to markets in Peninsular Malaysia and other countries, and you must know the strengths as the State has the advantages,” he said.
Abang Johari also urged Sarawak’s entrepreneurs to have a high vision and take advantage to market their products to the external market. Also present at the convention were Deputy Chief Minister, Datuk Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hasan and Minister for International Trade and E-Commerce, Dato Sri Wong Soon Koh.
