Sim said KUSKOP was committed to extending entrepreneurship initiatives beyond major cities to rural areas, particularly in Sabah and Sarawak, to ensure micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) received more inclusive support.

To strengthen Sabah's business ecosystem, the ministry implemented 134 Tamu Desa projects between 2024 and 2026, involving an allocation of more than RM30 million. The projects included the development of a Modern Hawker Centre in Kundasang.

Meanwhile, the three-day Karnival Hebatkan Peniaga Malaysia, held in Sabah from Oct 23 to 25, attracted more than 52,000 visitors.

Sim said participating MSME traders recorded sales and potential business opportunities worth more than RM1.5 million.

He added that KUSKOP was exploring partnerships with international e-commerce platforms to help more Malaysian MSME products enter overseas markets.

These efforts included collaborations with TikTok Shop and Lazada, as well as exploring potential partnerships with Alibaba, Taobao and Tmall to establish a Malaysia Mall concept to promote and market local products internationally.

Sim said cross-border e-commerce should be a two-way trade channel, enabling Malaysian products to compete globally rather than serving mainly as a route for foreign goods to enter the domestic market.

-- BERNAMA