Wong (second left) presenting an award to a student while (from left) Catherine and Hu look on.
SIBU: Single mothers have been urged to harness the potential of e-commerce to tap into the vast and lucrative world market to sell their products.
Minister of International Trade and E-Commerce Dato Sri Wong Soon Koh said however that these single mothers would need to ensure that their products are of top quality, well-packaged and consistent before they can be marketed to the world.
“They must try to maintain the top quality (of their products) in order to maintain the sale. In time to come, I will organise seminars and workshops for them, particularly single mothers.
“You don’t have to depend on the local market. You can connect yourselves to the world. Therefore, at the world market, you must have top quality, maintain consistency of your product, (and) you must package them very well,” he told reporters here yesterday.
Wong was met after officiating the Sarawak Central Region Single Mothers’ Association’s (Pitwits) Family Day-cum-Student Excellence Awards 2017 at 1Malaysia Cultural Village.
Asked on how soon his ministry would work together with Pitwits to roll out seminars on e-commerce for single mothers, he said they were working on it.
“We are working now. You know this is a new ministry – my Assistant Minister for E-Commerce Datuk Mohd Naroden Majais and my (ministry’s) permanent secretary Kamri (Affendi) are going to work things out.
“It takes time but as soon as possible we will get in touch with the entrepreneurs — the young entrepreneurs, associations, chambers of commerce and even single mothers’ association – all those who can play a role in promoting e-commerce,” he assured.
Meanwhile, organising chairwoman Tuai Rumah Catherine Tamoh said the Family Day was Pitwits’ annual event, aimed at reducing the sadness of single mothers while finding support and strength from each other.
She also appreciated the government’s gesture of allowing them to use a quarters at Jalan Lanang for their meeting.
Catherine, however, hoped that the poor road condition leading to the quarters could be improved.
At the same function, Wong announced a grant of RM10,000 to Pitwits for the association to carry out its activities.
Among those present were Sibu Resident Hii Chang Kee, Pitwits chairwoman Hu Siik Ping, representatives from the National Anti-Drug Agency Mohd Tumi and Harry Pangkas, as well as representatives from the Malaysian Civil Defence Force (APM) Luke Douglas and Harta Fairus.