KUCHING: Sarawak’s small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) have the potential to reach bigger markets, provided they are equipped with the right packaging, food safety knowledge and product standards.
CENTEXS Commercial Packaging Centre Operations Head, Amirul Hadi Salim, said packaging was no longer merely about making a product look attractive, but played an important role in determining its safety, shelf life and competitiveness.
He said many local entrepreneurs already produced quality products with strong market potential, but improvements in packaging, presentation and product durability could help them take the next step towards reaching consumers beyond Sarawak.
“Our focus at the CENTEXS Commercial Packaging Centre is to help entrepreneurs improve their packaging, particularly in terms of safety, marketability and product presentation.
“At the same time, we expose them to the basics of food safety and the facilities available to help them develop products that are more market-ready,” he said after the Pocket Talk: Introduction to Food Safety programme held at JUMA’ANI Pavilion here Sunday.
He added, the appropriate packaging solution depended largely on the nature of each product, as different foods required different methods to preserve their quality and extend their shelf life.
Frozen products, for instance, require packaging capable of withstanding low temperatures, while products intended for room-temperature storage could benefit from retort packaging, which is currently one of the centre’s key areas of focus.
For snacks such as crisps and chips, he said airtight packaging could help preserve their crispness and flavour while extending their shelf life.
Meanwhile, CENTEXS Commercial Services Sdn Bhd Strategic Communications, Gallery and Marketing Unit Head, Malissa Sahari, said around 20 entrepreneurs were currently involved in the initiative, most of whom were SMEs and home-based entrepreneurs from Kuching and Petra Jaya.
She said many of the entrepreneurs required further guidance in areas such as certification, packaging and product quality before they could confidently venture into larger markets.
“Our initial focus is to assist these 20 entrepreneurs over a period of three to six months. With the Packaging Centre, we hope to extend this assistance to more SMEs in the future,” she said.
Among the products receiving attention are sambal made from local ingredients such as gula apong (Sarawak palm sugar) and kelulut honey, alongside crisps and other snacks that have potential for wider commercialisation.
Malissa said local heritage products, in particular, deserved greater exposure as they represented Sarawak’s unique identity and could potentially appeal to consumers outside the state.
“These local heritage products need more exposure so they can reach wider markets. This is also in line with CENTEXS Commercial’s objective of connecting communities with the business world,” she said.
Entrepreneurs seeking services and consultation can contact CENTEXS Commercial through its social media platforms or visit JUMA’ANI Pavilion directly.
