A Penan woman weaves the conference bag.
KUCHING: Specially-designed Penan handwoven bags will be used as official conference bags for the National Teochew Conference on Aug 15-17 at Pullman Kuching.
The unique Penan motif in the state colours will welcome more than 1,200 delegates from across the country.
There will also be special guests from China and Singapore attending the grand anniversary dinner.
The 78th National Delegates Conference and the 83rd anniversary of the Federated Teochew Associations of Malaysia is hosted by the Kuching Teochew Association with assistance from the Teochew associations of Sri Aman, Engkilili, Sibu, Mukah, Tatau, Bintulu and Miri.
This is the fifth time the event is being held in Kuching, with the last being in 2005.
The event is supported by the Sarawak Convention Bureau.
The bags are produced by Penan artisans supported and coordinated by the Ten Ringgit Club, a non-profit organisation that assists the artisans to sell their handicrafts to improve their household income.
Part of the proceeds goes to an education fund to provide tuition and education aid for Penan children.