SRI AMAN: The Jom@Coop programme was officially launched today at the Seri Simanggang Hotel in Sri Aman.
It focuses on equipping local cooperatives, entrepreneurs, and residents with specialised training in agriculture, quality control and entrepreneurship to enhance their skills and foster community growth.
Officiated by Sri Aman Member of Parliament, Datuk Seri Doris Sophia Brodi, and organised by the Malaysia Cooperative Institute (IKMa) Sarawak Zone, the programme will run throughout 2025.
During the programme, Doris emphasised the significance of cooperative training in boosting the region’s economy.
She highlighted how the programme supports the Malaysian government’s objective of reinforcing cooperatives to uplift rural communities in Sarawak.
“This initiative reflects our commitment to empowering local cooperatives and entrepreneurs.
“By enhancing their knowledge and skills, we are equipping them with the tools needed to contribute meaningfully to the socioeconomic development of our region,” said Doris.
A key session during the launch focused on cultivating ‘midin’ fern, a traditional vegetable with both nutritional value and economic potential.
Doris highlighted how cooperatives can use such unique agricultural products to strengthen the local economy.
She emphasised that Sri Aman’s fertile land and resources offer cooperatives an excellent opportunity to support local farmers and entrepreneurs, boosting the agricultural sector and increasing farmers’ incomes.
Doris also noted the completion of the Pan Borneo Highway, which has improved access to Sri Aman and is expected to boost tourism, encourage entrepreneurship, and position the town as a key player in the region’s economic development.
“Thanks to the enhanced connectivity, Sri Aman is now poised to thrive as an economic hub, offering exciting opportunities for local businesses and tourism,” Doris said.
The Jom@Coop programme aligns with the government’s Post-COVID-19 Development Strategy 2030 (PCDS 2030), supporting its goal of fostering inclusive and sustainable growth across Sarawak, particularly through the sixth strategic pillar of building resilient communities.
Doris encouraged local cooperatives, entrepreneurs and residents to make the most of the programme’s offerings and the support available from agencies such as IKMa, the Malaysia Cooperative Commission (SKM) and the Sarawak Agriculture Department.
“Cooperatives must actively invest in the development of their members and ensure the long-term sustainability of their businesses,” Doris said.
She expressed hope that the Jom@Coop programme would foster collaboration and innovation among Sri Aman’s cooperatives and entrepreneurs, urging participants to strive for excellence, work together, and seize available opportunities.
