KUCHING, June 13 — The Dayak Chamber of Commerce and Industry (DCCI) pledged today to aid budding native entrepreneurs seeking to advance their businesses through the Sarawak Corridor of Renewable Energy (Score).
Its president, Datuk Joseph Salang Gandum observed that few Dayak businessmen knew whom to approach for aid and often lost out on many economic opportunities as a result, causing them to lag behind the other ethnic groups on Borneo state.
“The DCCI will help to equip the Dayak businessmen and entrepreneurs to suit themselves with the requirements needed to be involved in Score’s downstream activities, by providing training and courses,” said Salang.
He said the commerce chamber could help as it has good ties with the various agencies in charge of the project.
“It does not have to be the main industries. There are also many opportunities in the downstream activities, like food production and farming, and small contracts,” the Barisan Nasional (BN) federal lawmaker said.
In May 2012, the DCCI organised a forum attended by Dayak businessmen and entrepreneurs who expressed an interest in joining Score but had no idea how to.
At the forum, the participants also voiced fears they would not be able to compete against bigger, more established industry players.
DCCI advisor Tan Sri Celestine Ujang Jilan, who was also at the same news conference, gave an assurance that there were abundant opportunities even for the newer players.
“Some of our members managed to secure opportunities while others are still waiting in line. There are still plenty of opportunities in Score and we are continuously helping them to seize whatever opportunities that come by,” he said.
Ujang said most of the opportunities involve contract work like small construction projects as many Dayak businessmen and entrepreneurs have various classes of contractor licenses.
