KCCI to celebrate 22nd anniversary March 9
PENAMPANG: The Kadazandusun Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) will be celebrating its 22nd anniversary on March 9, in its bid to commemorate its two decades of service to the Kadazandusun and Murut (KDM) community.
Since its inception in February 1996, KCCI had been spearheading the move to enhance the participation of the KDM community in commerce and industry, said its deputy president, Datuk Ladislaus Maluda.
“We chose to celebrate our 22nd celebration because the number signifies unity. Even our own political leaders from our community are currently rallying for us to unite. Thus, we as a chamber must do the same,” he said.
During the event, KCCI will be paying tribute to all its past presidents and past supreme council members, which would be the highlight of the evening, Ladislaus said.
Apart from that, KCCI will also be distributing its souvenir books during the reception, showcasing all of its achievements and contributions for the past 22 years.
Ladislaus disclosed that the book would highlight all of the past training programmes of KCCI, congresses, its good rapport with the Dayak Chamber of Commerce and Industry (DCCI) and many more, all in pictures.
“These photographs that we have selected will tell the story,” he added.
The event will be held at ShangriLa Tanjung Aru Resort, at 7pm and it will be officiated by Science, Technology and Innovation Minister Datuk Seri Panglima Wilfred Madius Tangau.
The reception is expected to draw over 500 guests.
Today, KCCI had successfully opened doors for more KDM people, both young and old to start their own businesses, especially to explore ideas that are more ‘creative’.
“Our role as a chamber is quite straightforward. It is to facilitate, to provide networking opportunities and to inform our members of any available government aids or grants that can help the KDM community,” Ladislaus stressed.
“When we first started, we looked at KCCI as mean of fellowship and networking. Those were the days when seven out of ten of our members are contractors, who would depend largely on the government for projects.
“Then, we went toge tour members to diversify. Why diversify? It is because we want the KDM people to venture into other business opportunities, such as tourism, supply and trading. Anything other than the contract industry as it is too lumped up there.
“Our main objective is to get as many of our KDM people to get into the business industry. To become employers rather than employees,” he stressed.
After 22 years, all the hard work has paid off as most of the KCCI members are now into the creative industry and they mostly comprised youngsters.
He explained that most of the new members are running their own business.
“To me, this is a ‘creative’ industry since it is not concerned with civil work and it does not depend on the government for help. Now they (the youngsters) are on their own.
“Either directly or indirectly, we have encouraged a lot of young people to go into their own businesses. I think we have achieved this goal,” said Ladislaus.
It is understood that KCCI currently has 641 members.