MARA Targets RM1 Million in Sales Through 2nd Edition Of BizNetwork Fiesta Sarawak
KUCHING: Majlis Amanah Rakyat (MARA) is targeting sales of RM1 million through the 2nd Edition of BizNetwork Fiesta Sarawak, a three-day event held at Plaza Merdeka, in a move to further strengthen efforts to empower local entrepreneurs through digital marketing and business networking.
Deputy Minister of Rural and Regional Development, Datuk Rubiah Wang, said the programme brought together 32 MARA-mentored entrepreneurs from across Sarawak, who not only promoted their respective products but also underwent live marketing training on the TikTok platform to expand their market reach.
She said the approach received an extremely encouraging response, with many entrepreneurs successfully leveraging digital platforms to introduce their products to a wider consumer base.
"Some of the entrepreneurs went live on TikTok for the first time, and they received very positive feedback from consumers. This indirectly opens up wider market opportunities for the products of MARA-mentored entrepreneurs," she said.
She was speaking to reporters after officiating the BizNetwork Fiesta Sarawak 2nd Edition at Plaza Merdeka, here, on Saturday.
Datuk Rubiah added that this edition also made history with the debut of the MARA in Fashion programme in Sarawak for the first time, aimed at elevating the talent of local fashion entrepreneurs to a higher level.
She said the initiative not only promotes the creations of Sarawak entrepreneurs but also showcases Borneo identity through creative and innovative design elements.
She also praised the achievement of a former WorldSkills Malaysia participant who now serves as an instructor at the Institut Kemahiran MARA (IKM) in the field of fashion and design, in addition to guiding trainees in combining creativity with modern technology, including artificial intelligence (AI).
"Sarawak's fashion entrepreneurs have great talent. What they need is space and exposure. What can be done in the Peninsula, we can also do in Sarawak," she said.
In a related development, she said BizNetwork Fiesta Sarawak also saw the launch of six new products developed by MARA entrepreneurs, featuring innovations in packaging, flavour and product variety.
Commenting on sales performance, Datuk Rubiah said the programme recorded sales of RM228,190 on the first day, while several products on display sold out on the second day.
She expressed confidence that the overall sales target of RM1 million could be achieved, citing the encouraging response from visitors and the potential business matches formed throughout the programme.
She said BizNetwork Fiesta is not merely a sales platform but also serves as a medium for MARA to empower entrepreneurs, particularly those in rural areas, through digital marketing training, product development and business network expansion. -UKASnews
