Kobib re-emerges with big plans for next year

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INTERESTING: Jaya Suria (right) admiring some of the bead embroidery products at the centre. At second right is Ambrose.

KUCHING: Koperasi Bidayuh Kuching Berhad (Kobib) has re-emerged with big plans for next year after ‘hibernating’ for 34 years.

It launched the Borneo Dayak Costumes, Handicraft & Souvenirs Centre which is its first major business venture yesterday.

For next year, it plans to purchase a shop house in one of the prime areas in the city and venture into the oil palm business.

Kobib chairman Andrew Joris Noyen said the opening of the centre was a big step towards realising bigger plans for the cooperative.

He pointed out that for the last 34 years, many people did not know about Kobib and its activities although it has an office in Dayak Bidayuh National Association (DBNA) headquarters at Jalan Kumpang here.

With the opening of the Borneo Dayak Costumes, Handicraft & Souvenirs Centre, he hoped this would ‘resurrect’ Kobib and he called on members to continue supporting Kobib.

He also announced plans to increase the membership of Kobib to 300 next year.

The Borneo Dayak Costumes, Handicraft & Souvenirs Centre was launched by Malaysia Cooperatives Commission (SKM) Sarawak senior assistant director Jaya Suria Muss on behalf of the state director Ishak Samdin.

Kobib’s plan for next year was explained in detail earlier by Borneo Dayak Costumes, Handicraft & Souvenirs Centre’s working committee chairman Ambrose Dango.

He said the shop house to be purchased by Kobib would be from either the new commercial centre being developed at the old site of the Third Mile Bus Terminal or from one of the commercial centres in Kota Sentosa New Township.

He also mentioned that next January, Kobib would be applying for grants under the revolving funds provided by SKM.

On the centre, he said it would be selling indigenous handicrafts and costumes from the Bidayuh, Iban and Orang Ulu communities.

“We place emphasis on selling quality products at affordable prices,” he said.