Batik takes centrestage

Nice: Traditional batik attire for men and women.

THE lobby of the Entrepreneur and Cooperative Development Ministry (MECD) in Putrajaya has been livened up with batik prints, following the launch of the Batik Terengganu Week on Monday.The event organised by Yayasan Pembangunan Ushawan Terengganu with the support of MECD and the Terengganu state government, is a platform to promote Terengganu's batik products to the workforce and residents of Putrajaya.

Besides batik, other products as a result of the one district one industry (SDSI) initiative are also being sold.Deputy Entrepreneur and Cooperative Development Minister Datuk Khamsiyah Yeop said SDSI was first introduced in 1992 and was initially known as one village one product but had a name change later on.She said the programme focused on the commercial marketing and development of products from a particular district.

MECD played a role with its marketing and promotion working committee and entrepreneur development-working committee to help improve on quality and appeal of products, Khamsiyah said.“At present, the packaging for SDSI products have seen a marked improvement with eye-catching labels that make them attractive to the local and international market.“SDSI products have also been recognised with hazard analysis critical control point (HACCP), good manufacturing practices (GMP), halal certification and ISO.

“All of these was made possible with the cooperation of technical and research agencies like SIRIM Berhad, MARDI and others,” she said before launching the Batik Terengganu Week at the ministry's Exhibition Hall.

It’s open: Khamsiyah launching the Batik Terengganu Week while Mohd Hashim (second from left) and Nawi look on.

Khamsiyah said the ministry was committed in helping entrepreneurs promote and market their wares.“The difficulty in marketing their products and shortage of capital were reasons why the ministry stepped in to help,” she said.Khamsiyah said there were 40 SDSI entrepreneurs who had set up stalls at the lobby with 20 selling batik.

Variety: Batik products on display at the the Entrepreneur Cooperative Development Ministry during the Batik Terengganu Week.

“I hope all entrepreneurs will use this golden opportunity to market and promote their products and seek whatever help they need from the MECD team and other relevant agencies during the five-day fair,” she said.She urged everyone to visit the upcoming SDSI 2007 in Malacca from July 5 to 8, which will be launched by Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak.

Also present at the event were the ministry's deputy Secretary-General Mohd Hashim Abdullah, Terengganu Batik Association representative Mohd Zahari Zakaria, Terengganu Entrepreneur Development, SMI and Small Traders deputy chairman Nawi Mohamad and SDSI Yayasan Pembangunan Usahawan Terengganu manager Tengku Khairi A.Rahman.

Following the launch, guests were treated to a display of batik designs showcasing contemporary and traditional batik clothing for men and women.