Sabahan’s lime chutney enters Kuwait market
TAWAU: The humble lime chutney, made by Sabahan entrepreneur, Lely Busok, has garnered international attention, having entered the Kuwait market last month, and will be exported to 81 other countries in the near future.
Lely, 54, said the product would also be exported to Poland next month, to be followed by other countries in stages.
Her success in exporting the product proves there was a demand for the twangy appetiser in the international market.
“It has been a month since the product was exported to Kuwait with help from the National Entrepreneurship Institute (Insken),” she told Bernama, when met during the Sabah state-level National Cooperative Day 2017 celebration yesterday.
The three-day event, which ended yesterday, featured over 50 booths by local entrepreneurs and government agencies, showcasing food products and local handicraft, among others.
Lely said she began thinking about selling the homemade lime chutney when she was in her 20s, with most of her clients comprising friends and neighbours in the early days. She made a profit of around RM600 per month.
“Based on the response, and with my husband’s support, I started focusing on expanding the business, with the assistance of numerous platforms and programmes for entrepreneurs organised by government agencies in the country,” she added.
Lely said the cooperative had helped provide guidance in managing her business, and the Area Farmers Organisation also assisted with equipment, including tables and pots to make the chutney.
“Since then, my income have been increasing and can reach up to between RM7,000 to RM9,000 per month,” she added.
She currently also owns a food factory in Bandar Sri Indah and the business is run with help from her children.
“I only hire additional manpower when necessary, based on demand for the lime chutney or other food products, including fermented fish.
“It usually takes about 200 kilogrammes of lime to make the chutney, and the process may take a while, depending on the weather, because the lime needs to be sundried,” Lely said.
She added that the product was also available at the Gmart supermarket in the state, and would also be made available in the Peninsular and Sarawak. — Bernama