By Nur Ashikin Louis
KUCHING, May 16: Miri is home to 219 craft entrepreneurs registered under Malaysian Handicraft Development Corporation, the highest concentration out of 1,153 entrepreneurs located across Sarawak.
This is followed by Kapit with 190 craft entrepreneurs and Sibu with 134.
Telang Usan assemblyman Dennis Ngau said the data was as of June 2021, with new craft products introduced totalling 83.
“The figures, personally for me, are still low and we need to find ways to unearth more craftsmen and women throughout Sarawak especially among the youth and the younger generation,” he said when debating in support of the Sarawak Craft Council Bill, 2023 at Sarawak Legislative Assembly (DUN) Complex here today.
He also noted that Sarawak and Sabah have recorded sales of RM14.9 million and RM15.8 million respectively in the craft industry as of September 2022.
“The achievements of Sarawak and Sabah accumulated to RM30.7 million, an increase of 19 per cent over the RM25.7 million that was recorded in September 2021.
“This value contributed to the overall sales of RM211 million for the year 2022 and it has exceeded the target of RM200 million for Malaysia.
“It is a huge market in the handicrafts industry (sic) and we must take this golden opportunity to support this Sarawak Craft Council Bill 2023 to empower our crafts industry and making it sustainable and competitive,” he added. — DayakDaily
