Venture into global market for higher demand, Naroden tells SMEs
MIRI: Small and medium enterprises ( SMEs) do not have a choice but to venture into the global market as the demand and purchasing power for quality Sarawak products are there.
Thus, local entrepreneurs must strive to be proactive and innovative to stay competitive and widen their business opportunities in a bigger market, said Assistant Minister of Entrepreneur and Small, Medium Enterprise ( SME) Development Datuk Mohd Naroden Majais when officiating at the opening of Rosfaniaga factory at Eastwood Industrial Zone here yesterday.
Present was Rosfaniaga Services Sdn Bhd managing director Fatimah Abdul Hamid.
Naroden said SMEs here must think big and do big by introducing their products to the global market where the demand is greater due to the bigger population.
However, their products must meet the standards and regulations set by the countries in terms of quality and standard, he added.
He disclosed that the recent expo in Naning, Shanghai saw 1,000 bottles of bird nests sold within one hour during the launching of the event, which showed the great demand for Sarawak products, including food.
Naroden said among the products displayed at the expo by SMEs were kek lapis, keropok lekor, kelupis, kelulut honey and Sarawak pepper, which were all grabbed up.
“We can see the demand is there and these people want our products including fruits such as banana, pineapple. Their population is bigger so there is big demand,’ he said.
He disclosed that the Sarawak government through his ministry will continue to support SME entrepreneurs by bringing them and their products to take part in expos in China, Korea and the Middle East to expose them to a wider market.
He cited China as a country where there is great demand for health products and Saudi Arabia as a country with high demand for beauty and skin products.
“We don’t have problem in marketing our products as we have the Internet and online services by which our products can be sent everywhere in the world,” he said.
On government assistance for SMEs, he said agencies like Mara, Sirim and banks could help local entrepreneurs move forward and enter the bigger market through loans and provision of equipment.
Meanwhile, Fatimah who spoke earlier disclosed that Rosfaniaga Services Sdn Bhd started with a machine provided by the Fisheries Development Authority ( LKIM) to make keropok lekor at Morsjaya, Miri in 2012 before spreading to Kuching through assistance from the Welfare Department and Sarawak Economic Development Corporation ( SEDC) in 2013.
She said in 2014 Rosfaniaga bought a factory in Eastwood Industrial Zone which had helped the company’s business to expand and compete in the global market.
“I have seen failure and panic but through the experiences we moved forward to achieve our big dream. Today, we supply various products including keropok lekor, satay tuna and keropok segar, and a few new products are coming up soon,” she said.