Najib poses for an ‘Instagram’ photo with Multimedia Development Corporation (MDec) staff at the launching of GREAT 2016.
Country’s first Blue Ocean Entrepreneurs Town to be sited in Kuching, project to get federal funds
KUCHING: Sarawak will be the first to have a Blue Ocean Entrepreneurs Town that is based on the concept of ‘work, eat and play’ for young and budding entrepreneurs.
Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak said this proposed project would be sited at Borneo744 in Bintawa here, and it would be the starting point for many such towns nationwide.
“We want to turn this into a creativity and innovation hub. We are providing the venue to encourage collaboration and networking. Young people can run their business, experiment with new products, obtain guidance and start-up capital,” he said at the launching of Gathering of Rising Entrepreneurs, Act Together (GREAT) 2016 at Borneo Convention Centre Kuching yesterday.
“I look forward to this to get our young people involved. I hope during my 51st or 52nd visit (to Sarawak), the place will be ready, and I want to see this place for myself.”
Present were his wife Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor, Chief Secretary to the Government Tan Sri Dr Ali Hamsa, State Secretary Tan Sri Datuk Amar Mohd Morshidi Abdul Ghani, Second Minister of Resource Planning and Environment Datuk Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hassan who represented Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Adenan Satem, and Deputy Finance Minister Datuk Chua Tee Yong.
Borneo744 is set to be developed by a consortium comprising Cahya Mata Sarawak, MyPerforming Arts Agency (MyPAA), a local social enterprise Tanoti and Malaysian Global Innovation & Creativty Centre (MaGIC).
During the event, the prime minister also launched the National Blue Ocean Strategy (NBOS) competition that is open to all Malaysians. It offers prizes worth up to RM350,000.
He hoped the competition would draw quality ideas which could be implemented in line with the NBOS principle, namely, high impact, could be implemented promptly, low cost and sustainable.
Meanwhile, Finance Ministry secretary-general Tan Sri Dr Mohd Irwan Serigar Abdullah told a press conference later that the proposed site for the Entrepreneurs Town was formerly a Public Works Department warehouse sitting on 10 acres.
“We have discussed with the landowner, Cahya Mata Sarawak, and State Secretary’s Office. It is in the design stage. The prime minister said he wants this entrepreneurship town to be set up as soon as possible.”
On the allocation required, Mohd Irwan said the federal government would allocate the funds needed but had yet to get the estimates because it depended on the design of the township.
“We are not going to demolish the warehouse. We will refurbish and renovate it so that the concept of warehouse is there, but we will modernise it. We will allocate the budget needed, but we need to estimate how much is needed first.”
Besides being equipped with modern concept eateries that would cater for young people, he said there would be an area dedicated for local entrepreneurs to sell their products and a place for entrepreneurship training for Sarawak products, such as handicraft and Batik.
“We will also have an area for the creative arts industry, such as in movie production, and also establish MaGIC Sarawak branch. Besides that, we will also have an area for companies with technological expertise, such as in robotics and drone building for young people.
“We will also have an area for extreme sports activities. All these will be operated by young Sarawakians from the private sector. The government will only facilitate by giving a bit of allocation to modify the area to the tastes of young people.”
Mohd Irwan said since Borneo744 is located near a river, a jetty would also be built nearby to enable those who wanted to cross the river to do so.