KOTA KINABALU: The state Industrial Development Ministry is working to help local entrepreneurs step up their productivity and adapt to the new norm in business through digitalisation.

Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Dr Joachim Gunsalam said his Ministry was collaborating with private sectors to promote products of Sabah small-medium enterprises (SMEs) and cottage entrepreneurs via e-commerce.

Such a move would not only enable local entrepreneurs to market their goods locally but also nationwide and globally.

Through the many collaborations, Gunsalam noted SMEs and home-made products would be placed on online marketplaces like E-pasar Sabah, Shopee, BorneoKaki, ShopDirect, Tamuku, My Borneoshop, and GoNet, among others. 

Since the outbreak of Covid-19 in March, he noted many businesses were badly affected due to the movement control order and the way to conduct business nowadays was online.

He said many businesses were being done via social media, while food delivery services had increased with the existence of Grabfood, Foodpanda, and Morefun, among others.

He said supermarket and minimarkets in Sabah have also stated utilising online systems to enable businesses to run throughout the pandemic.

As such, Gunsalam noted his Ministry conducted online marketing and digital accounting courses to entrepreneurs in efforts to drive digital transformation in Sabah.

In line with the current demands, he said Sedco through Sedcovest Holdings Sdn Bhd would be providing digital business training courses.

Between 2019 and this year, he noted 10 business-related online courses were organised involving 232 participants, with training modules focusing on digital marketing, Facebook advertising, Facebook and Instagram for Business.

Next year, four courses covering graphic design, website designing, copywriting and online marketing would be carried out.

"At the same time, the state government is in the process of developing an entrepreneur portal that will provide detailed information of entrepreneurs in Sabah.

"Expected to be completed next year, the portal (handled by the Industrial Development Ministry) can be accessed by all ministries and agencies that provide entrepreneurial development programmes," said Gunsalam.

https://www.nst.com.my/news/nation/2020/11/644620/sabah-push-local-entrepreneurs-transition-digital-business