KUCHING, Aug 12: The nipah industry has the potential to penetrate foreign markets due to its high demand, said Dato Sri Dr Stephen Rundi Utom.
According to Dr Rundi, who is Minister of Modernisation of Agriculture and Regional Development, nipah products, especially ‘gula apong’, have always been well-received not only in Peninsular Malaysia but also some foreign countries.
“As the only producer of nipah in this country, I advised industry players in Sarawak to continue working hard to develop the industry further,” he told reporters after the flag-off ceremony of ‘gula apong’ shipment from Syarikat Kit Hin, a local company to Peninsular Malaysia, on Wednesday (Aug 10).
He added that the government, through related agencies such as the Sarawak Land Development Board (SLDB) and the Sarawak Department of Agriculture (DOA), will work with industry players to continue to assist, especially in finding suitable areas for nipah tree planting activities.
For the record, Syarikat Kit Hin is the sole producer of local ‘gula apong’ that manages to export its product to Peninsular Malaysia, Singapore, United Arab Emirates (UAE), Korea, Japan, Australia, and a few other countries.
Last year, a total of RM1.93 million worth of ‘gula apong’ products was exported from Sarawak, generating an income of RM3.38 million in sales in the local market. — DayakDaily
