KUCHING: Sarawak Product Pavilion (SPP) in Kuala Lumpur – Sarawak’s e-commerce and online business platform will enable Sarawak entrepreneurs to promote their products better as it is the gateway to the bigger global market.
According to Assistant Minister of E-Commerce, Datuk Mohd Naroden Majais, the rapid advancement in technology and Internet has revolutionised the way business is conducted.
“The SPP at Jalan Tuanku Abdul Rahman, Kuala Lumpur is more than just a collection, exhibition or product marketing centre for Sarawak entrepreneurs as more importantly, it was mainly established as an e-commerce and online business platform.
“It was commissioned immediately after the launch by Deputy Chief Minister, Datuk Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hasan, who is also Minister of Industrial and Entrepreneur Development, in January this year,” he said.
Naroden, who is also Assistant Minister of Entrepreneur and Small and Medium Enterprise (SME) Development, said SPP is equipped with Internet facilities although it is yet to be as strong as it should be.
He said there is also a special floor to conduct online business, equipped with several laptop computers, a studio and camera for product modelling, packaging design and other tasks.
Sarawakian entrepreneurs in Kuala Lumpur and nearby areas can utilise the facility to promote their own products or those of other entrepreneurs in Sarawak.
“Those Internet-savvy entrepreneurs in Kuala Lumpur can cooperate with product owners in Sarawak whether directly through Ministry of Industrial and Entrepreneur Development (MIED) portal or Ministry of International Trade and e-Commerce Sarawak (MITec).
“All the information about the products and the producers can be obtained directly from these portals. They can negotiate with the owners of the products on commission rate, product delivery modes and volume that can be marketed,” he added.
This meant that online entrepreneurs need not necessarily have their own products as they can market those of others. Hence, this is one of the business opportunities for the individuals.
According to Naroden, SPP also provides special floors for meetings and business-making, cafe with local Sarawak menu on the ground floor and Sarawak Timber Industry Development Corporation (STIDC) exhibition.
Furthermore, he said, the SPP also provides facilities to promote Sarawak tourism via LED screen at the front end of the exhibition level.
He reckoned that such efforts would bring Malaysians and tourists from overseas to Kuala Lumpur.
Naroden said Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg had agreed to officiate at the opening ceremony for the SPP tentatively this April 21, where more than 200 products from Sarawak would be exhibited – slated for the peninsula market and eventually, to the global market.
According to Naroden, both MIED and MITeC encourage the use of digital and online technology in business trading among Sarawak entrepreneurs.
