NILAI, Negeri Sembilan — The Deputy Chief Minister III and Minister of Industrial Development, Entrepreneurship and Transport (Mindet), Datuk Ewon Benedick, said he would place strong emphasis on raising the standards and quality of products and services offered by Sabah entrepreneurs.
He shared this vision after visiting the manufacturing factory of Norcy Beauty Lab, owned by Sabahan beauty product entrepreneur Norsiah Ahiddin, in Nilai recently.
“I am proud to see Norcy’s success, which began on a small scale at the Matunggong Entrepreneurship Centre that I officiated when I was the Sabah Minister of Rural Development. It has since grown into a larger enterprise with its own expanded factory in Matunggong and an OEM factory in Nilai, Negeri Sembilan.
“Last year, when I was with the Ministry of Entrepreneur Development and Cooperatives through its agency SME Corp, I presented her with a grant to help expand her business. Her products are now available in markets in Sabah, Peninsular Malaysia, and Brunei. The company employs up to 15 workers and generates nearly RM10 million in revenue.
“This is the spirit of Sabah First — not only striving in one’s homeland, but also competing and expanding businesses beyond Sabah,” he said, adding that he was honoured to accept Norcy’s invitation to officiate her new factory and would ensure that Mindet provides appropriate support to her business.
He added that Norcy’s success story aligns with the Sabah First Vision he aims to realise at Mindet — creating more income-earning opportunities for Sabahans, both as business owners like Norcy and as employees in growing enterprises such as hers.
“I will ensure that Mindet provides the necessary support to Norcy to further expand her business. May this serve as an inspiration to other entrepreneurs and the people of Sabah,” he said.
