KOTA KINABALU: To support post-pandemic recovery, the Ministry of Entrepreneur Development and Cooperatives (Kuskop) has launched the one-district, one industry (SDSI) Borneo Region showcase, boosting local entrepreneurs to strengthen businesses and create jobs.
Held at the Tawau Municipal Council Square on Saturday (May 10), the event brought together over 120 entrepreneurs from Sabah and Sarawak to promote products and expand market reach.
Entrepreneur Development and Cooperatives Minister Datuk Ewon Benedick said merging the separate SDSI showcases for Sabah and Sarawak was aimed at creating a bigger impact.
“This year, we decided to combine the showcases for Sabah and Sarawak into a single event to create a bigger impact. That’s why I visited several SDSI booths recently, including those from Sarawak, to see how they are participating in this initiative,” he said.
To support this effort, Kuskop introduced the SDSI 2.0 guidelines to improve the programme’s structure, making it easier for small businesses to access support, including training, market access, and collaboration with government agencies.
It has also allocated RM1.5mil this year for SDSI 2.0 entrepreneurs in Sabah, channelled through the Sabah Department of Entrepreneur and Industrial Development to strengthen the local economy and reduce poverty.
Benedick, who co-chairs a joint coordination committee with the Sabah Minister of Industrial and Entrepreneur Development, said this collaboration is critical for supporting small businesses and driving economic growth.
“We want to ensure that not only SDSI entrepreneurs but also other small and medium enterprises (PMKS) benefit from this collaboration,” he said.
He encouraged SDSI entrepreneurs to form cooperatives to strengthen their business networks and improve access to financial support.
“We want SDSI entrepreneurs in each district or community involved in the SDSI programme to form cooperatives, which can further accelerate their growth and increase their participation, not just in Sabah but across the country,” he said.
During the event, Benedick presented RM19.098mil in grants to five recipients, including entrepreneurs and cooperatives, as part of a broader effort to strengthen the SDSI ecosystem.
The showcase featured a wide range of local products, including food and beverages, health and wellness items, handicrafts, and tourism-related services.
The event also included attractions like the Jualan Murah Madani, offering over 200 daily essentials at discounts of up to 40%, and the SDSI Borneo Creative Video Competition, encouraging entrepreneurs to showcase their products through digital storytelling.
Food enthusiasts enjoyed the Selera Bawah Bayu section, celebrating the diverse culinary heritage of Sabah and Sarawak, while those seeking financial support could access the Biaya initiative, connecting businesses with conventional and Islamic financial institutions, development banks, and alternative financing companies.
Live product demonstrations allowed businesses to engage directly with customers, while business matching sessions connected entrepreneurs with major local retailers, providing valuable market access for small and medium enterprises.
The Satu Daerah Satu Industri programme aligns with the Madani economic framework by promoting community-based economic development, supporting locally-made products, and creating job opportunities for local residents.
Benedick expressed hope that the Satu Daerah Satu Industri Wilayah Borneo showcase will not only boost the local economy but also inspire greater public support for local products, creating a lasting impact on the economic wellbeing of the community.
