KOTA SAMARAHAN: Sarawak is well-placed to unlock new economic opportunities for women by developing its rich orchid biodiversity into a high value industry.
Women, Family and Community Development Minister Datuk Seri Nancy Shukri who held out these prospects said the state’s estimated 1,300 orchid species accounted for one of the world’s richest orchid biodiversity treasures that remained largely untapped beyond their ornamental value.
She said countries such as Taiwan, China, Thailand and the Netherlands had successfully developed orchid industries through research, biotechnology, healthcare and herbal based products.
“With its unmatched biodiversity, abundant natural resources and favourable climate, why not Sarawak? Sarawak can also be recognised as an internationally renowned orchid hub,” she said at the 3rd Sarawak Orchid Society (SARORSO) Graduation Ceremony 2026 here on Monday (July 6).
She said SARORSO was already turning that vision into reality through programmes that combine leadership development, entrepreneurship, skills training and biodiversity conservation to strengthen communities.
Among them is the Women’s Leadership and Entrepreneurship Mentoring Programme for the B40 community under the ministry’s Women’s Leadership Apprenticeship Programme (PERANTIS), which enables participants to explore the commercial potential of orchid based products while developing entrepreneurial skills.
“The programme has already produced encouraging results. Some participants are earning between RM800 and RM1,000 a month, while others have gone on to generate up to RM8,000 monthly from their orchid based businesses.
“This proves that when women are empowered with the right skills and opportunities, they can build successful and sustainable livelihoods,” she said.
Nancy said the achievements demonstrated how orchid based entrepreneurship could transform Sarawak’s biodiversity into a sustainable source of income while adding commercial value to the state’s natural resources.
She added that participants were encouraged not only to build successful businesses but also to share their experience, knowledge and opportunities so more aspiring entrepreneurs could benefit from similar initiatives.
“When we share our experience, knowledge and opportunities, we help create more successful entrepreneurs while building a stronger and more competitive community,” she said.
