LIMBANG: The Development and Marketing Strategy for Local Products from the Perspective of the Sarawak Trade and Tourism Office Brunei (STATOB) took centre stage at a Pocket Talk session organised by the Limbang Resident’s Office on Thursday.

The session was delivered by STATOB’s Stakeholder Affairs Manager, Jasman Tambi, at the Limbang Ria Festival sales grounds.

It brought together around 52 participants, including community leaders, small and medium enterprise (SME) operators, and stall vendors conducting business at the festival site.

The briefing was aimed at introducing STATOB’s role as a key platform for strengthening trade, investment, and tourism ties between Sarawak and Brunei Darussalam, while creating broader avenues for local entrepreneurs to tap into overseas markets.

According to Jasman, STATOB is a strategic office that gives Sarawak a competitive advantage as a regional trade hub, particularly within the BIMP-EAGA market.

It also serves as a coordinating centre for promotional efforts, marketing initiatives, and collaborative ventures between the two regions.

During the briefing, he also outlined the development and marketing strategies that form the backbone of STATOB’s effectiveness.

Among the measures highlighted were efforts to expand the promotion of local products through exhibitions and trade missions, as well as forging partnerships with strategic counterparts in Brunei, such as the Brunei Economic Development Board and local business associations.

STATOB also emphasises the use of digital platforms to broaden market reach and make it easier for entrepreneurs to promote their products globally.

In addition, community-based marketing approaches are encouraged to make the most of local cultural strengths, the influence of public figures, and support from the wider community.

Also present was the Deputy Resident of Limbang Division, who is also the Chairperson of the Limbang Division Entrepreneur Development Council, Marie Cotilla Louise.

In her opening remarks, she urged more traders in Limbang to seize the opportunity to participate in the various entrepreneurial programmes and courses held from time to time.

She noted that active participation from local entrepreneurs is vital to help them expand their knowledge, strengthen their business strategies, and prepare themselves to capture greater opportunities abroad.

This Pocket Talk session offered early exposure to entrepreneurs on the wide range of opportunities provided through STATOB to help expand the market for Sarawak products, particularly in neighbouring Brunei Darussalam.
-UKASnews