Cooperative sector has potential — DCM
KOTA BELUD: The Sabah government is confident that the cooperative sector in the state will be able to compete at the regional and international level and at the same time play a role as one of the main drivers of the state’s economic prosperity, said Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Dr Joachim Gunsalam.
Joachim, who is also state Industrial Development Minister, said the commercial activities of the state cooperative sector had great potential to be expanded internationally with the existence of a pragmatic business model and strong supply chain as well as relevant agro-industry development strategies.
In this regard, Joachim wants the cooperative sector in Sabah to encourage its members to improve their capabilities, skills and generate pragmatic business models in an effort to market their products and services to the global market.
“I hope the cooperative movement in Sabah led by the Malaysian Cooperative Commission (SKM) can continue to be strengthened in line with the agenda of the Sabah Maju Jaya (SMJ) economic development plan and become an important pillar in prospering the economy and strengthening the well-being of the people.
“The Malaysian Cooperative Transformation Plan 2021-2025 has outlined comprehensive goals and measures to ensure the cooperative movement can provide greater benefits to the well-being of members and the community, besides ensuring cooperatives are more competitive, sustainable and sustainable,” he said while officiating at the launch of the Kaki Kaki Kampung ETransformation Hub and during a visit of cooperatives under the Sabah level wholesale and retail sector in Kampung Taginambur near here on Saturday.
The Kaki Kaki Kampung E-Transformation Hub was established by SKM Sabah as one of the efforts to strengthen the agro-entrepreneur programme run by Koperasi Wawasan Rakyat Sabah Bhd, in helping the rural community increase their income and encourage them to become successful agro-entrepreneurs.
Joachim said the Kaki Kaki Kampung E-Transformation Hub provided various security facilities for rural food supply as well as facilitated the sale of agricultural products, livestock, handicraft products of small and medium enterprises.
“The goal of establishing the Kaki Kaki Kampung ETransformation Hub is to address challenges in terms of sales and marketing logistics. I am confident that this initiative can create a sustainable ecosystem to support the poverty eradication agenda, improve the living standards and well-being of the people of Sabah.
“This supports the state government’s efforts in strengthening the supply chain industry,” he said, adding that a sustainable business model through strategic integration with upstream and downstream supply enterprises can attract community participation in the market and stimulate employment opportunities.
Meanwhile, SKM Sabah director Matias Kundapin in his speech hoped that the cooperative sector in the state would be specifically placed under a suitable ministry to ensure that its development direction could be coordinated with the economic planning by the Sabah government.
“If the voice of the cooperative movement in Sabah can be considered by the state government, I am sure it will provide greater benefits, not only for the development of cooperatives and entrepreneurs, but also the socio-economic development of Sabah as a whole in the future,” he said.
As of Dec 31 last year, Sabah recorded a total of 1,616 cooperatives with 303,122 members, shares and fees worth RM213.0 million; while the value of assets owned by the cooperative movement in the same period was RM845.2 million and the turnover for 2020 amounted to RM354.6 million.