THE four-day long Karnival Usahawan Desa 2017 (KUD2017) provided a boost for business among entrepreneurs from rural areas nationwide.
The carnival which began on Oct 19, was a crowd-puller for visitors to Putra World Trade Centre due to the products and services offered there.
The carnival focused on six business areas, which were food and beverages, services and hospitality, lifestyle, beauty and wellness, agriculture products as well as Information, communication and technology (ICT) and creative ICT.
Throughout the event, PWTC was packed with visitors who came to source for products, explore new markets, or establish connections with the entrepreneurs.
The carnival had an air of rural hospitality as celebrities and emcees often communicated with the visitors, making them feel welcome.
On Friday, there were performances from artistes Datuk Jamal Abdillah, Siti Nordiana, Khai Bahar and Orkestra Tradisional Malaysia who wowed the crowd during the Simfoni Desa Tercinta concert held in conjuction with the carnival.
More shoppers thronged the carnival, especially during the weekend. The number of visitors reached about 1 million on Sunday.
On Saturday, visitors were also invited to a night of entertainment during the Konsert Kemuncak Karnival Usahawan Desa 2017.
Singers Ella, Amy Search, Dafi, Elly Mazlein and Akim & The Majistret were among the line-up of performers entertaining the crowd of about 3,000 visitors.
Some 700 entrepreneurs participated in the event.
Siti Fatihah Khairol Mizan, 22, said the programme has given an exposure to the masses including teenagers and rural folk, on the various opportunities available through entrepreneurship.
She was promoting herbs and spices products from IFA Mz Herbs.
Her team received guidance under the Southeast Johor Development Authority (Kejora), an agency under the Rural and Regional Development Ministry (KKLW) as well as Johor Agriculture Department.
At the carnival, she met with suppliers including from food and beverage industry to inquire about her spice products.
“The carnival gave us a chance to improve our business as we were able to meet people from SIRIM to guide us on packaging,” she said.
She said the carnival had attracted a lot of visitors as the entrepreneurs had good customer service skills and the organiser had lucky draw for customers.
"They had to make a purchase of certain amount to be eligible to participate in the lucky draw. This encouraged more people to shop at the carnival," she said.
A participant from Borneo, Alice Kadal, was very happy to introduce her local culture to the crowd.
Alice, a mother of one, found the carnival to be a great platform to sell works of art from the Iban people.
“The Iban people at the longhouse have learnt to weave plastic thread to be made into mat or bags.
“With infusion of modern design, practicality and good marketing skills, the product has potential to be commercialised, especially for fans of ethnic crafts,” she said.
Haziq Rahim, 21, said the carnival had not only benefitted entrepreneurs, but also those who were sourcing for environmentally-friendly product.
Haziq, from Agroext Superbio Sdn Bhd said he managed to meet farmers and researchers, who were interested in products that could increase yield without adversely effecting soil quality in the long run.
“For entrepreneurs, we not only aim to be profitable, but we hope to empower the people by improving their livelihood,” he said.
He said the carnival served as a one-stop centre as visitors could meet a lot of entrepreneurs at the same place.
“I attended the previous carnival in Putrajaya, and the difference this time was the strategic location in the city centre,” he said.
Noorul Fatiha Aminordin, who was selling Tok Yam fish crisps said they enjoyed brisk business with many customers purchasing in bulk.
“The strength of the carnival is that we get to explore new markets for business including for export abroad,” she said.
The carnival also featured Desamall@KKLW for Rural Business Challenge, Desamall Online, Skim Pembiayaan Ekonomi Desa, Desa Lestari and Road To Hypermarket.
“Mobilepreneurs” at the carnival offered manicure and pedicure services, reflexology, hairdressing, make-up and motorcycle repair.
The carnival was officiated by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak on Friday.
In his speech, Najib stressed on creativity and innovation to drive consistent outputs for the rural industry.
"We need to maximise digital technology and leverage on it to ensure our place on the global supply chain," he said.
He said this will ensure that entrepreneurs from the rural area will not be left behind as the world moves towards a digital industry.
Also present were Rural and Regional Development Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob, his deputies Datuk Alexander Nanta Linggi and Datuk Ahmad Jazlan Yaakub, as well as Sabah Chief Minister Tan Sri Musa Aman.
Najib said rural entrepreneurs needed to develop their creativity in marketing their products on the global market.
"It is the digital age and this is the new normal, where products are moved on the global supply chain by cashless means and even without human contact."
He said, rural entrepreneurs also needed to improve their competitiveness and be resilient in facing the new economic landscape.
“These are the important traits to ensure that entrepreneurs will continue with their path to success,” he said.
Meanwhile, Ismail had encouraged entrepreneurs with great potential to improve on their products, including on packaging so they could be sold at hypermarkets.
“This is because they have a stringent guideline, including having information on ingredients as well as barcodes,” he said.
He said for their products to be able to penetrate the international market, the products could also be labelled in English and Mandarin.
Ismail added that the carnival was one of the biggest events which gathered rural entrepreneurs.
“This is a great platform for new business ventures and to expand their network for marketing,” he said.