KUCHING, Nov 17: Sarawak Digital Economy Corporation Berhad (SDEC) has announced the launch of the SE*Hebat Sarawak Blueprint as part of its efforts to pave the way for more sustainable development of social enterprises and entrepreneurship in Sarawak.
The launching ceremony was officiated at by Deputy Premier of Sarawak Datuk Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hasan on Wednesday (Nov 16) at Hotel Seri Malaysia Lawas in Lawas.
According to SDEC’s press release, social enterprises (SEs) are businesses that focus on creating a positive impact in their community while also generating profits to ensure their sustainability.
SEs have been garnering attention both locally and globally. In fact, the Malaysian government has been consistently showing support for the industry, since the inception of Malaysian Global Innovation & Creativity Centre or MaGIC (now known as MRANTi) in 2014 and most recently, the launch of Social Entrepreneurship Action Framework 2030 (SEMy2030) in April 2022.
Developed by SDEC, the SE*Hebat Sarawak Blueprint is part of an overall strategy within the Sarawak Digital and Innovation Ecosystem with the ultimate goal of developing a more community centric ecosystem and impactful businesses in Sarawak.
Currently, Sarawak accounts for about seven per cent of SEs in Malaysia and more traditional businesses are found to lean towards impact-making instead of being solely profit-oriented.
Sarawak has the potential to become a powerhouse for SE in the country, and the SE*Hebat Sarawak Blueprint will assist to steer Sarawak towards that direction.
The blueprint outlines four strategic thrusts and 31 key strategies to create a mature ecosystem that supports social entrepreneurship encompassing four dimensions: Policy and Regulation, Financing Solutions, Infrastructure and Human Capital, and Information Knowledge and Networks.
The blueprint is tailored specifically to cater to Sarawakian needs, subsequently supporting the State’s diverse cultures, and to find solutions to manage local issues.
“The SE*HEBAT Sarawak Blueprint is developed through a series of discussions and survey collections from stakeholders of various sectors and sizes to provide us with a better insight into what needs to be done.
“The content covers the typology and profile of current SEs in Sarawak, issues faced, and their areas of improvements as well as an overview of the current Sarawak Digital ecosystem, its potential, and growth opportunities,” SDEC chief executive officer (CEO) Sudarnoto Osman said.
Furthermore, the SE*Hebat Sarawak Blueprint also provides insights to organisations embarking on SE development in Sarawak to ensure they are well equipped to optimise their programmes and initiatives.
“I believe Sarawak could be a prime model in the country for which an SE could strive especially with our resources, cultural diversity and our strong sense of kinship.
“Thus, I encourage new and existing entrepreneurs to explore a different way in doing your business and how being an SE could be your next journey,” Awang Tengah stated.
The SE*Hebat Sarawak Blueprint is endorsed by the Ministry of International Trade, Industry, and Investment (Mintred) Sarawak and will serve as the primary reference for those interested in SEs in Sarawak, including individuals, businesses, and organisations.
The SE*Hebat Sarawak Blueprint can be viewed and downloaded by the public, starting today via https://sehebat.sarawak.digital/. — DayakDaily
