Infrastructure upgrade to boost rural entrepreneurship – Rina

KOTA KINABALU: Federal Rural Development Minister Datuk Seri Rina Mohd Harun was encouraged by the participation of Sabah entrepreneurs in the fourday Karnival Usahawan Desa (KUD) organised by her ministry.

She said the carnival, held for the first time in Sabah, attracted 350 entrepreneurs and 70 per cent of them are women.

Speaking to reporters after the launch of the carnival by Chief Minister Datuk Seri Shafie Apdal here yesterday, Rina said the event was a platform to strengthen existing ties between the federal and state government.

“This is important because we want to expedite and ensure the smooth implementation of whatever programs or projects in Sabah and in the end, benefit the rakyat,” she said.

Rina believed that one of the ways the federal government could assist those in the rural areas other than education was in entrepreneurship.

“There are many Sabahan products that we can highlight and commercialize with the technologies available now. This is what I am trying to do. The ministry extends its support through agencies under it,” she stressed.

On the issue of basic infrastructure especially roads in Sabah, Rina said the government was looking at the issue and pointed out that in the Rural Development Policy announced by Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohammad, the target was for 95 per cent of the folk in the rural areas to enjoy the benefits of basic infrastructure by 2025.

“And we admit that in order to improve entrepreneurship, infrastructure must be in place,” she said.

Rina added that the ministry was also in discussion with Malaysia Airports Berhad (MAB) to showcase local products in the six international airports in the country.

KKIA is one of the airports and this is one way to promote products from ‘rural to global, she pointed out.