KUCHING: The Tourism, Arts and Culture Ministry and Sarawak Crafts Council will continue to promote the development of the local handicraft industry.
Its minister Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah said this when gracing the sixth Borneo International Beads Conference (BIBCo) 2019 gala dinner and fashion show at The Waterfront Hotel last Saturday night.
“We have approximately 1,500 local people involved in the production of handicrafts for sale including beads craftsmen.
“Therefore, my ministry and Sarawak Crafts Council will continue to promote the development of our local handicraft industry so that our craftsmen are able to earn decent incomes from their wonderful creations,” he added.
The Sarawak government and his ministry had been strong supporters of BIBCo all these years because there were good economic potentials in developing a lucrative bead industry, he explained.
“Historically, beads have linked the Borneo Island to the rest of the world since ancient times and I am pleased to note that this connection is still strong, just the lines from one endless string of beads — right up to the discovery of bone beads in Niah Cave and now to computer-generated beading patterns!” said Karim.
He revealed that Sarawak welcomed over 4 million visitors each year and many of the foreign visitors were drawn to the state by the local bead works and products.
On this year’s Visit Sarawak campaign, the minister said he was glad to see Kuching hosting interesting events such as music festivals, art exhibitions and cultural programmes.
“Our former Chief Minister and now Governor Tun Pehin Seri Abdul Taib Mahmud wanted Kuching City to have a soul.
“We are slowly getting towards that. We are now setting up a centre for performing arts which could bring the city to a higher height in terms of its arts and culture programmes,” he said.
Also present at the gala were Karim’s spouse Datin Zuraini Abdul Jabbar, BIBCo director Heidi Munan, Sarawak Arts Council chief executive officer Sharkawi Amit and the ministry’s permanent secretary Hii Chang Kee.
At the gala dinner, guests were entertained to a fashion show with models showcasing local cultural beads and traditional outfits as well as local performances and performances from Indonesia.
The three-day BIBCo conference from Oct 4 to Oct 6 took place at The Waterfront Hotel.
