KUCHING: CENTEXS Commercial is set to expand its efforts in promoting Sarawak heritage products to a wider market, with plans to establish a presence at Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) under the Sense of Malaysia retail store.
Centre for Technology Excellence Sarawak (CENTEXS) general manager Mohd Shahren Mohd Yusri said that Malaysia Airports Holdings Bhd (MAHB) had offered them the opportunity to expand Sarawak heritage products to six other international airports in Malaysia, but they have not yet had the chance to pursue it.
“We had previously received an offer to open a store in Langkawi under MAHB’s Sense of Malaysia initiative, but we have not had the opportunity yet.
“So, our plan is to start in Peninsular Malaysia with KLIA first.
“I urge Sarawak entrepreneurs to get involved, as there is a growing demand for Sarawak heritage products both locally and internationally,” he said.
He said this during a press conference at Sense of Malaysia, Kuching International Airport today.
When asked about plans to bring Sarawak’s products to the international stage, Shahren asserted that CENTEXS Commercial had signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Batik Air in 2024 to promote Sarawak products through the airline.
While still in the planning phase, he said the collaboration aims to enhance market reach via the aviation sector.
Beyond airports, CENTEXS Commercial continues its partnership with the Sarawak Trade and Tourism Office Singapore (STATOS) to expand its market presence.
“I still have concerns about production if we intend to export.
“If we sell in small quantities, we might face production issues when it comes to shipping.
“We are still in the process of arranging and collaborating with entrepreneurs to increase our production capacity before we take our products overseas.
“So, the plan is in place,” he assured.
Looking ahead, Shahren said that CENTEXS is also exploring potential collaborations with the Sarawak Tourism Office in Brunei to further extend its market footprint.
“Our strategy involves leveraging available platforms while ensuring our production can meet demand before expanding internationally,” he added.
