Concerns Over NADI’s Effectiveness In Boosting Sarawak’s Digital Entrepreneurship
Minister of Communications Fahmi Fadzil outlined that starting March 1, 2024, PEDi centers have been rebranded as Pusat Sebaran Maklumat Nasional (NADI).
During the Dewan Rakyat sitting today (July 10), Fahmi said the rebranding reflects a broader role for NADI, shifting from a focus on entrepreneurship to serving as a dissemination center for government initiatives and aid to local communities. The role of NADI has expanded to include empowering communities through sustainable and relevant programs aimed at bridging digital, knowledge, and socio-economic gaps.
In response to an inquiry by Dr. Richard Rapu @ Aman anak Begri (GPS-Betong) about the current assessment of the effectiveness of digital entrepreneurship courses introduced at the Pusat Ekonomi Digital (PEDi) in Sarawak, and the information on the measures being taken to enhance the accessibility and quality of these courses, Fahmi also said that NADI has conducted various entrepreneurship training sessions to bolster the socio-economic status of local communities.
These sessions cover areas such as website development, social media marketing, and packaging. NADI collaborates with several government and private agencies, including the Companies Commission of Malaysia (SSM), MYNIC Berhad, Amanah Ikhtiar Malaysia (AIM), TEKUN Nasional, Shopee Mobile Malaysia Sdn. Bhd., and AEON Co. (M) Berhad.
To date, NADI has assisted and trained over 3,850 entrepreneurs in Sarawak, focusing on online marketing through platforms like Shopee and others. As a result, these entrepreneurs have achieved sales exceeding RM2.56 million from June 2021 to December 2023.
A notable success story is that of Ramtiniwaiti Ramlee from NADI Kampung Gedong in Simunjan, Batang Sadong. Her products, including Maskota songket, have reached global markets such as the United Kingdom, the United States, Canada, Spain, India, China, Japan, Indonesia, and other Southeast Asian countries.
The Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) showcased her success at the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, Spain, in early 2024, highlighting NADI’s role in boosting Sarawak’s socio-economic development.
Recognising the importance of NADI’s contribution, MCMC plans to expand the number of NADI centers in Sarawak. Currently, there are 133 NADI centers in Sarawak, with 23 new centers slated to open by the end of 2024, bringing the total to 156 centers.
To ensure the dynamism and sustainability of its entrepreneurship programs, NADI is revising existing programs. Enhancements include financial management, business governance, technology use in business, and packaging technology. Additionally, there will be programs targeting youth and students, facilitated by professionals to instill entrepreneurial interest.
