Entrepreneurs urged to explore new opportunities in Asean market
KOTA KINABALU: Local entrepreneurs are urged to explore new opportunities outside the State using marketing platforms.
Assistant Minister of Trade and Industries Azhar Matusin said entrepreneurs need to break out of the conventional way of marketing within the State.
Instead, attention should be shifted to the Asean market as 15 per cent of its inhabitants are middle-class with high buying power.
“We should look at it as a business opportunity to be explored, which could generate high income for Sabahan entrepreneurs. All parties, whether they be government agencies or businessmen, should come together and brainstorm ideas to affect integrated and comprehensive change,” he said.
Speaking at the Brave Talk Show in conjunction with the launch of Mompreneur Sabah, Azhar added that entrepreneurs should also be prepared, alert and responsive towards latest developments in the fast-paced industry.
He said there should be awareness within entrepreneurs to seize wider business opportunities to see results of the liberisation process within the country.
Meanwhile, Azhar viewed the new approaches taken by bumiputera companies like Momprenuer Sabah, Brave, Avanus Store and Tamuku as good platforms to empower women entrepreneurs.
He urged more local companies to be identified so they could become State “icons,” which he said could motivate others out there to be more competitive and add value to their business.
The programme, co-organised by Momprenuer Sabah, Sabah Women’s Affairs Department (JHEWA) and Sedcovest Holdings Sdn Bhd, gathered entrepreneurs and professional women to create an intellectual space for proactive discussion.
Also present were Sedcovest chairman Datuk Asnimar Sukardi and Sabah Economic Development Corporation (SEDCO) group general manager Datuk Pengiran Saifuddin Pg Tahir.