KAPIT, July 4: Increasing innovations and development in digital platforms such as mobile commerce and online businesses has created vast opportunities in the marketplace, empowering entrepreneurs and startups with the opportunity to plan out their own marketing strategies, and connect them with a more diverse customer base from all over the world, leveling the playing field for SMEs and retailers alike.

In line with the Sarawak government’s intensive efforts to transform Sarawak’s conventional economy to a digital economy, Sarawak Multimedia Authority (SMA) in collaboration with Angkatan Zaman Mansang (AZAM) Sarawak held the third edition of its Community Digital Initiative workshop series from 3-4- July 2019 in Kapit as part of a statewide campaign to spread digital inclusivity.

Conducted by representatives from government and private sectors such as SMA, Pustaka Negeri Sarawak, Center of Technical Excellence (Centexs) and local industry players, the workshop aimed to empower Village Development and Security Committees (JKKK) and entrepreneurs with relevant e-commerce marketing skills and netowrking that can enable them to mobilise their respective communities to initiate activities that promote and nurture the digital economy.

About 40 participants comprising selected JKKK members and local entrepreneurs from Kapit Division attended this one-and-a-half day workshop which aimed to provide a platform for local community leaders and JKKK to play their role as state development frontliners in motivating and mobilising their communities to be digital-ready.

To achieve this objective, a representative from SMA gave an overview of Sarawak’s digital economyh strategy to better facilitate participants’ understanding and implementation of digital initiatives with their communities.

Other workshop highlights were knowledge sharing sessions from successful industry players like apparel and accessories entrepreneur Neng Kho Razali, on how to leverage on digital platforms to market original Bornean designs to the international market, and agro-based entrepreneur Heineken Laluan on packaging, shipping, and selling local produce to global markets.

The first and second edition of the workshop was held in Lawas last year and in Bintulu in March 2019.

For more information, contact AZAM Sarawak’s Community Development Unit officer Yaana Singkie at 082-411799 or email: yaana@azam.org.my.