MP: Papar should tap Tarap and Bambangan
Published on: Sunday, December 30, 2018
Papar: Papar has potential to spearhead the development of new food-based products such as tarap and bambangan chocolates, said Papar MP Ahmad Hassan.Speaking to reporters during an entrepreneurial mini carnival here on Saturday, Ahmad expressed confidence that the new products will sell if properly done."There are new products that we've never heard of before such as chocolates made of tarap and bambangan being showcased at this mini carnival today," he said.
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"If marketed well, I'm 100pc sure that the venture will be successful because the fruit trees are already there in our home areas. No planting is needed."The fruits have their season but if commercialised heavily and if we set the timing right, the entrepreneurs will not run out of supply. If successful, the projects can be replicated in other areas of Sabah where the fruits are native."Ahmad said the main problems budding or new entrepreneurs in Papar are facing are not technical but rather their lack of competitiveness and personal initiatives."One or two months into their business, if their business is not taking off, they become upset and give up. But if we're competitive, we'll find the root causes and try to improve," he said.
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"When we know the root causes, we will fix the problems. For example, the location of our business may not be right, so we will find better places that offer better incentives, one that is rent-free and has a lot of traffic perhaps."There'll be guidance on this from the association which is holding today's mini entrepreneurial carnival, where some 90 enterprises are taking part."
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Ahmad said the new Government will take a bottom-up approach, rather that the previous government's top-down one, in building entrepreneurship."In the past, it was those at the top who planned things. Now, we will let the people at the bottom plan according to their ability," Ahmad said."If they can do it, we'll take their business proposal up. If they can't do it, we'll help them. If their ideas need improvement, we'll help them fine-tune their business plan"The event was co-organised by the Sabah Entrepreneurs Association or Push, which its President Noreen Ann said was formed in 2014 and whose membership consists of Bumiputera manufacturers, service providers, suppliers, importers and exporters.The other organisers were the Papar Parliament Office and Community Development Leaders Unit in Kawang.Noreen said the association's members had penetrated international markets such as Dubai, China, Korea, Japan, Brunei and more."It is our aspiration that during the carnival, our association members can share their experiences and knowledge with budding and new entrepreneurs, especially in Papar," said Noreen."There'll be a an entrepreneurial briefing and business matching advice given during the carnival and we hope those interested will go into the business world or those new in it can tap into the networking and advice opportunities provided by us and government agencies taking part in the event."Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express’s Telegram channel.
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