KUCHING: The Sarawak government, through the Ministry of Food Industry, Commodity and Regional Development (M-FICORD), is actively promoting the growth and development of the local food industry.
Minister of M-FICORD, Datuk Seri Dr. Stephen Rundi Utom said recently he took the initiative to personally observe the downstream processes in product marketing business.
“I came here on my own initiative. I want to see the existing downstream processes for us to market products.
“Now I understand that many are interested in marketing, processing, and so on, but we need a complete supply chain.
“If they have the desire to do marketing but the raw material supply is insufficient, it will be a problem,” he said during a visit to the Sarawak Pavilion Food and Hotel Asia (FHA) – Food & Beverage (F&B) 2024 yesterday held in Singapore.
Consequently, Dr Rundi has proposed the Department of Agriculture Sarawak to conduct a comprehensive study to identify individuals or groups interested in processing and marketing as well as their needs.
“In future, my ministry will organise a seminar or conference in Kuching involving all relevant parties to contribute innovative ideas and solutions regarding this matter,” he said.
He added it would enhance the achievement of the local food industry, hence expand the market for local products globally.
“My goal is to ensure that local products can achieve industrial grades to ensure sustainability and economic growth.
“Although products such as coconuts, bananas, pineapples, and durians have been identified, until today, we have yet to reach the industrial level.
“Now we are looking at food safety, such as rice, paddy, and so on, and for that, economies of scale are needed. I really hope that we will have one industry for the existing products,” he stated.
