MALAYSIA'S ASEAN CHAIRMANSHIP OPENS OPPORTUNITIES TO PROMOTE LOCAL PRODUCTS – EWON 

TELUPID (Sabah), Oct 26 (Bernama) -- Malaysia’s ASEAN Chairmanship this year opens greater opportunities for local entrepreneurs to penetrate the regional market, while highlighting the uniqueness of local products including handicrafts from Sabah.

Entrepreneur Development and Cooperatives Minister Datuk Ewon Benedick said the recently held SME Venture@ASEAN 2025 programme serves as an important platform for Sabah’s small and medium enterprises (SMEs) to introduce their respective products.

“The Sabah Pavilion has been launched to showcase products from Sabah, and part of the souvenirs for the various ASEAN meetings also involve products such as handicrafts from Sabah.

“We are creating participation opportunities for entrepreneurs, whether in the form of souvenirs for various meetings or through participation in ASEAN-level expos organised,” he told reporters after attending a gathering with Tabung Ekonomi Kumpulan Usaha Niaga (TEKUN) Nasional entrepreneurs here today.

In addition, Ewon said the ministry has also implemented four key components throughout this year’s ASEAN Chairmanship programmes, including the ASEAN Coordinating Committee on Small and Medium Enterprise (SME) in Langkawi, Kedah and the ASEAN Inclusive Business Forum in Kuala Lumpur.

“Small Medium Enterprise Development Bank Bhd (SME Bank) also launched the ASEAN-level Centre of Excellence for Green Transitions for Malaysian Small, Medium and Micro Enterprises (MSME) as well as the ASEAN Cooperative Dialogue a few months ago,” he said.

-- BERNAMA