KUCHING: UiTM Sarawak is in talks to bring Indonesia’s premium Luzia Coffee to Sarawak, following a strategic visit to Jakarta that strengthened academic and industry partnerships.
Accompanying officer and senior lecturer at Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM) Sarawak, Dr Tamoi Janggu, said the initiative stemmed from a six-day programme in the Indonesian capital that combined academic collaboration with social entrepreneurship under the Service-Learning Malaysia – University for Society (SULAM) agenda.
He said the visit not only reinforced academic ties through a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Universitas Insan Pembangunan (UNIPI), but also opened new opportunities for industrial collaboration.
“UiTM is currently in discussions with ASL Group of Companies on a Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) that would grant the university rights to import, promote and market premium Luzia Coffee in Sarawak.
“So far, both parties have responded very positively,” he told reporters at Kuching International Airport yesterday.
Tamoi said the proposed venture could generate long-term economic benefits despite challenges related to cross-border logistics and regulatory requirements, adding that UiTM remains optimistic the agreement can be finalised in the near future.
He said the pilot project is expected to stimulate downstream activities in the beverage sector, create new income opportunities for local micro-entrepreneurs and strengthen cultural diplomacy between Malaysia and Indonesia in line with the ASEAN spirit.
According to Tamoi, the Luzia Coffee distribution initiative will be implemented through a campus ecosystem model involving the university, students and the student cooperative.
Under the model, UiTM will provide governance, research and market analysis to ensure the product is suitable for local consumers in Sarawak.
Students will spearhead digital marketing, sales strategies and cross-cultural communication activities through SULAM programmes, enabling them to gain hands-on industry experience.
Meanwhile, the student cooperative will serve as the domestic logistics and commercial hub, managing supply chain operations and functioning as a pilot distribution centre on campus.
Tamoi said the collaboration is intended to deliver tangible outcomes rather than remain a paper exercise.
“Through the MoA being developed with ASL Group, we want to translate Malaysia-Indonesia bilateral cooperation into meaningful economic benefits for the people of Sarawak.
“Through a cup of coffee, our students learn the realities of international trade and import businesses, while the student cooperative builds long-term commercial sustainability.
“This represents the gold standard of what SULAM can achieve by producing graduates who are not only academically competent but also equipped with the mindset of global social entrepreneurs,” he said.
The visit to Jakarta from June 10 to 15 involved 21 students from UiTM Sarawak’s Faculty of Accountancy.
During the programme at UNIPI, Tamoi delivered a session titled “Risk Management for Entrepreneurs”, while fellow senior lecturer Dr Yussri Sawani presented “Promoting ESG in SMEs: From Compliance to Competitive Advantage”.
The sessions aimed to strengthen entrepreneurial resilience among students while promoting awareness of environmental, social and governance (ESG) principles.
Tamoi said the programme was made possible through support from UiTM’s TAPA Fund, the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister II, the Office of the Premier of Sarawak, as well as several private companies and individual sponsors.
He added that the visit also served as a platform to promote Sarawak’s culture and tourism internationally.
