Minister of International Trade and E-Commerce Dato Sri Wong Soon Koh has great plans for e-commerce, particularly in helping rural people to market their produce to fast-track rural development.

He wants to connect the rural folk to the world market.

Wong, who is also Second Finance Minister, said he had yet to set up his ministry nor had he an office yet for the new ministry.

“But I have great plans for e-commerce. I will try to help the rural people to market their produce and connect them to the world market. You see, some of the things, we need logistics, for example, transportation. But some other items, like pepper, we can market them immediately.

“If we can produce them and package them attractively, then we can market them. Agricultural products are included in e-commerce to fast-track rural development,” Wong told reporters here yesterday.

He was met after visiting the 1Malaysia Internet Centre at Rantau Panjang near here. Earlier, he visited Rumah Franky, a stone’s throw from the Internet centre.

Rumah Franky was among 16 longhouses in Bawang Assan state constituency which he visited yesterday for his Pre-Gawai visit.

The Bawang Assan assemblyman said ‘batik’ and handicraft too could be marketed online.

“Sape, the Orang Ulu’s traditional musical instrument is very unique and can be promoted through the Internet.

“Can you imagine if we get connected to the world – the global market. They may not be interested to get it (‘sape’) to play but they may like to keep it as a souvenir because it is a unique product – the original musical instrument from the Orang Ulu.

“I am sure this sort of thing can be marketed. In time to come, we may have to set up factories to produce them if there is good demand,” said Wong, who is United People’s Party (UPP) president.

“Our handicraft, even our colourful dresses, I am sure people all over the world would like to possess them. It is a matter of promoting them (products), getting to know the products and how to market them through e-commerce.”

He said there was a need to set up a basic Internet highway to make it easily accessible.

The digital economy comes directly under Chief Minister Datuk Amar Abang Johari Tun Openg, who is working hard to set up the Internet infrastructure to enable e-commerce to take place.

Among those joining the Pre-Gawai visit were UPP Community Service Board (Sibu) chairman Dato Andrew Wong and deputy chairman Andrew Shilling.

Source:
courtesy of THE BORNEO POST

by Peter Boon

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