‘Grow more pineapples for export’
SIBU: Local entrepreneurs are urged take heed of Chief Minister Tan Sri Adenan Satem’s advice to grow more pineapples for export especially to the very large China market.
A corporate figure here Dr Gregory Hii Sui Cheng believed the export market was huge and was there for the taking while the local market was too small.
“As a member affiliated to the business chamber of commerce, I urge Sarawak businessmen to take heed of the chief minister’s advice which could bring them much reward,” he said.
The chief minister made the call during the launch of Sarawak Business Federation in Kuching recently.
“Even though our domestic market is relatively small due to its small population, Sarawak has a distinct advantage as it has vast tracts of land suitable for different types of crops including pineapples, rambutans, durians and bananas.”
Hii said the small domestic market had hitherto impeded development of large scale agriculture estates, but with the improving air connectivity afforded by direct linkages between cities in Sarawak and southern China and the expanding containerized services linking the two regions, the situation was now no longer the same.
He believed the government would also lend a helping hand should the entrepreneurs required any assistance as the call was made by the chief minister himself.
‘If Sarawak Business Federation can initiate a multi-racial business group to take the lead in this and bring it to fruition and success, it would be a good start as an umbrella organisation to reflect its truly multiracial composition.”