KUCHING: Sarawak and Indonesia are strengthening their partnership with a renewed focus on supporting micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) involved in cultural and heritage-based businesses.
The matter was discussed between the Ministry of Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts Sarawak and Indonesia’s Ministry of MSMEs, aiming to enhance regional collaboration in the creative industry and support small businesses.
The meeting, held yesterday (Feb 6) in Jakarta, was attended by Datuk Snowdan Lawan, Deputy Minister for the Ministry of Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts Sarawak; and Maman Abdurrahman, Minister of MSMEs of Indonesia.
Both ministries emphasised the importance of cross-border exchanges, business partnerships, and knowledge-sharing initiatives, which could enhance the visibility of artisans and performers, enabling them to reach wider markets while preserving traditional crafts and artistic expressions.
A key area of collaboration is expanding networks among creative industry players, particularly batik entrepreneurs, weavers, and performing arts practitioners.
Both ministries also explored strategies to promote creative and heritage products regionally through exhibitions, cultural expos, and entrepreneurship training programmes.
By leveraging existing platforms and creating new opportunities for showcasing creative products, Sarawak and Indonesia aim to boost the commercial viability of heritage-based industries while fostering cultural appreciation.
Additionally, joint participation in international trade fairs and cultural festivals can elevate the presence of creative entrepreneurs from both regions on the global stage.
Another critical aspect of the discussion was Sarawak’s interest in studying Indonesia’s MSME financing and support models to enhance its creative business ecosystem.
Indonesia has implemented various initiatives that provide financial assistance, capacity-building programmes, and digital transformation support for small-scale entrepreneurs.
Learning from these models could help Sarawak formulate more effective policies and funding mechanisms to empower its creative industry players, ensuring long-term sustainability and economic resilience.
