KUCHING: Keringkam embroidery is not just about preserving a rich cultural heritage but can also be a career for entrepreneurs in the textile field.
Deputy Minister of Rural and Regional Development Datuk Rubiah Wang therefore praised the Department of Social Welfare (Kemas) for responding to the state’s call by choosing the theme of keringkam art in the Wanita Inspirasiku (WINS) programme.
She explained that besides fostering Sarawak’s cultural art it can also produce successful entrepreneurs because the hijab and scarf can be sold for tens of thousands of ringgit.
“If we can take advantage of the Sarawak government’s aspiration to improve and dignify Sarawak’s cultural heritage, especially keringkam art, we can produce successful entrepreneurs,” she said at the WINS programme at the Mydin Petra Jaya shopping centre here Sunday.
Rubiah said, all input shared throughout WINS should be used as a motivation and trigger for rural entrepreneurs to become more successful.
Through sharing sessions by a panel of entrepreneurs and a training clinic, she said, new entrepreneurs can gain knowledge on improving the quality of their products as well as on marketing them.
“We don’t want to be stagnant, entrepreneurs must have competitiveness, identify quality products and know the market.
“What is more important is that their products are liked by customers and continually improved,” she said.
Also present were the Director General of Kemas Malaysia Datuk Ahmad Kamal Idris Mohd Nawai, the Director of Kemas Sarawak Anisah Saidin and the Director of Malaysian Kemas Skills Education Division Dr Zainal Abidin Ali.
