KUCHING: Sarawak’s tuak producers are encouraged to explore international markets to turn the traditional Dayak beverage into a local product capable of generating income and growing businesses.
Deputy Minister of Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts, Datuk Snowdan Lawan, said local tuak entrepreneurs have the potential to bring the heritage product not only to Kuala Lumpur, but also to Singapore, Bangkok, Tokyo and other markets.
“Why not? I want to see tuak all over the world because Korea exports soju, which is now available almost everywhere, and so does sake from Japan.
“I hope that one day tuak can be found in other countries, including Argentina and Spain. Who knows, maybe one day we will find tuak in Latin America or Europe, and consumers there could even connect and place orders directly with local producers,” he said.
He was speaking at the launch of the Borneo Tuak Festival (BTF) 2026 at 11 Ridgeway here today.
He said BTF 2026 could pave the way toward realising that potential by providing a marketing platform for local tuak entrepreneurs, noting that at a previous edition of the festival, one entrepreneur recorded sales exceeding RM7,000 over a single weekend.
Such income, he said, could be used by micro-entrepreneurs to acquire better equipment, improve packaging, boost production or build the confidence to grow their home-based operations into full-fledged businesses.
“This is what living heritage means, when a family recipe becomes a source of income, tuak makers build a brand and young people see a future in something inherited from earlier generations,” he said.
Snowdan proposed that BTF be made an annual platform in Sarawak on a larger scale, saying it would provide a market that entrepreneurs could aim for while encouraging them to improve product quality and develop their respective brands.
He also praised the BTF 2026 initiative for showcasing Dayak culture – including the Iban, Bidayuh and Orang Ulu communities – through various traditional performances such as gendang pampat and pantun.
He added that the growth of the cultural industry requires a platform that entrepreneurs can rely on, rather than a one-off opportunity.
“The ministry recognises the value of initiatives that combine culture, entrepreneurship and tourism, and will continue to support efforts to grow the festival responsibly.
“Two years ago, I spoke about the potential for tuak to grow from a cultural tradition into an industry, and today, that journey is already visible.
“An industry does not grow through one successful weekend alone; it needs entrepreneurs who keep producing, improving and developing their products, backed by a strong platform that brings them back to the market every year,” he added.
