KUCHING, 27 MAY 2024 – A graduation ceremony for 25 graduates of the Sarawak Tech Savvy Entrepreneur Development Initiative (STEDI) programme was held recently at the English Teahouse by Grand Margherita.
Coming from a diverse business background, the ceremony marked the successful completion of the six-month curriculum for the participants from Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) across Sarawak. The programme is a collaboration between Sarawak Digital Economy Corporation (SDEC) and Sarawak Business Fund (SBF) under the BizFund that was established by the Sarawak government through the Ministry of International Trade, Industry, and Investment (MINTRED).
The graduation ceremony commenced with an opening remarks by Chief Executive Officer of SDEC Ir. Ts. Sudarnoto Osman. In his address, he expressed confidence that the STEDI programme would benefit business owners and MSMEs, aiming to enhance their competitiveness through digitalisation.
“With support from MINTRED and SBF, ongoing assistance is assured to ensure the success of the STEDI initiative and to sustain a platform that elevates the digitalisation of entrepreneurs in Sarawak,” Sudarnoto said.
Also present was Co-chairman of SBF BizRecovery Fund and Deputy Treasurer of Sarawak Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI) Anne Kung who delivered the keynote speech. Kung opined that the STEDI initiative programme aligns perfectly with SBF’s mission to aid MSMEs in Sarawak by equipping them with the necessary tools and knowledge to embrace digitalisation and enhance their skills.
“This support would not only help them survive but also thrive after the COVID-19 pandemic. SBF hopes such programmes will continue and pledges full support to help Sarawakian SMEs become more digitally proficient and resilient in the evolving business landscape,” Kung added.
The ceremony also featured a sharing session titled ‘Leveraging Digital Tools for Small and Medium-Sized Businesses” by Zulkifli Seli, owner of Zulkifli Suli Enterprise. He shared his experiences of integrating digital and e-commerce into his business journey, aiming to inspire the entrepreneur community in Sarawak to embrace e-commerce confidently and persevere in their digital endeavours.
Next was the deep dive discussion titled ‘Empowering Sarawakian SMEs in the Digital Era’ moderated by Amirrul Rizwan Hafiz, SDEC Manager of SME Digitalisation. The panellists included Kung, Deputy Permanent Secretary of MINTRED Lo Sheau Sea, and Ketua Dewan Muda of Dewan Usahawan Bumiputera Sarawak (DUBS) Wan Najib Wan Hamdan. The discussion delved into how government policies and the efforts of business associations intersect to bolster the growth and resilience of these vital economic players in Sarawak.
The event concluded with the presentation of certificates to all graduates presented by Lo, Sudarnoto, and Kung.
MINTRED, SBF and SDEC are enthusiastic about STEDI’s potential to equip Sarawak MSMEs with digital proficiency and strength in their respective domain and are looking forward to driving similar collaborations in the near future.