BAU: Local handicraft entrepreneurs are seeking help from the state government especially in terms of financial aid to promote their products in the global market.
Margaret Jenis, 51, who sells Bidayuh handicraft and costumes, said she hoped to receive help from the state government in pursuing her dream and bringing the local Bidayuh handicraft to the world.
“I am hoping that I can receive some help in terms of finance and materials,” she said when met by New Sarawak Tribune at Gawai Carnival Redeems (GCR) 2019 here yesterday.
She said that she had been in the handicraft industry for more than 18 years and had been passionate about Bidayuh crafts ever since she saw her late great-grandmother doing the handicrafts and costumes.
“Since then I have this dream of showing our Bidayuh handicrafts and costumes to the world,” she enthused.
She also added that this is her sixth year participating in the GCR carnival apart from having a booth at the Kuching Waterfront to sell her products.
“Besides selling my handicrafts and costumes at these events, I am also selling them online through Facebook,” she added.
Meanwhile, Farida Lit, 49, who sells Orang Ulu handicrafts and beads said she was also hoping for some help from the government to promote her handicrafts, not just in Sarawak, but also throughout the world.
“I am hoping that the state government could provide us more platforms and opportunities to promote and show the world our local handicrafts from different ethnicity,” she added.
She revealed that she has been active in the handicraft business since the 1990s. “I started off from doing these handicrafts by following my late parents and slowly I started to love doing it,” she explained.
She lamented the challenges in operating her business, especially under current economic uncertainties.
“The economy is not good at the moment and it is tough to sell my handicrafts to the customers,” she said.
