Dutch guide thought RM60 Sarawak beads were worth USD1,000, says Deputy Premier

1 hour ago 4

ADVERTISE HERE

By Shikin Louis

KUCHING, Oct 4: A Dutch guide was so impressed by a string of Sarawak-made beads given to her as a souvenir that she estimated its value at USD1,000 — although Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hasan had bought it for just RM60.

Recalling the encounter during a trade mission to Holland, Awang Tengah said the beads were among local products he regularly brought along as souvenirs for people he met overseas.

“I always bring local products as souvenirs when I go on trade missions. Among them are beads. They are beautiful. I bought them from entrepreneurs from Lawas and Kuching,” he said.

He said he gave one of the pieces to a female guide before leaving Holland.

“She was shocked and asked me, ‘Minister, if I may ask, how much is this?’

“I told her it was a product from Sarawak and asked her to guess how much it cost.

“She said, ‘Maybe this is not less than USD1,000.’ Wow, she said. But I only bought it for RM60,” he said in his speech during the Welfare Micro-Entrepreneur Awards Ceremony 2026 in conjunction with the 9th Wellbest Carnival held at MetroCity Convention Centre here today.

Awang Tengah, who is also the Sarawak Minister for International Trade, Investment and Industry, further said the experience showed that Sarawak-made products could have significant value in overseas markets, but local entrepreneurs needed to learn how to present and market them effectively.

He said the focus should now be on helping local entrepreneurs move beyond Sarawak’s limited domestic market and penetrate wider international markets.

“We cannot depend on the local market alone. The market is limited,” he said.

Awang Tengah said entrepreneurs must embrace digital platforms and e-commerce to reach a larger customer base, while also leveraging Sarawak’s overseas trade and tourism offices and trade missions.

He said Sarawak’s trade missions regularly brought small and medium-sized entrepreneurs from various sectors, including handicrafts, food, beverages and fashion, to expose their products to international markets.

He also said micro-entrepreneurs under the Welfare Department should be included in future trade missions.

Additionally, Awang Tengah said international consumers were willing to pay more for products and services as long as they were of good quality and complied with the standards required by their respective markets.

He urged local entrepreneurs not to confine their ambitions to their villages or Sarawak, but to explore the wider market.

Also present were Sarawak Minister for Women, Childhood and Community Wellbeing Development Dato Sri Fatimah Abdullah; Deputy Minister for Community Wellbeing Development Datuk Mohamad Razi Sitam; Ministry of International Trade, Industry and Investment Sarawak (MINTRED) advisor Dato Sri Mohd Naroden Majais; and Sarawak Social Welfare Department (JKM) director Semawi Mohamad. — DayakDaily

Read Entire Article