NADI Helps Rural Entrepreneurs Embrace Digital Shift

KANGAR, Aug 9  (Bernama) -- From workshops to digital platforms, and local customers to royal orders — this is the transformation experienced by small and medium enterprise (SME) entrepreneurs in Perlis, who are now stepping confidently into the digital business world, thanks to guidance from the National Information Dissemination Centre (NADI).

Most entrepreneurs interviewed by Bernama expressed happiness and satisfaction that their participation in various training sessions and guidance programmes on digital marketing provided by NADI has begun to yield positive results.

For wood carving entrepreneur Hamizah Hassan, 36, who rents a workshop at the Perlis branch of Kraftangan Malaysia in Kuala Perlis, the idea of using social media platforms to market her products initially seemed daunting.

She was far more comfortable selling her creations through conventional, face-to-face methods.

“From 2013 to 2017, I usually sold my wood carvings physically and in person, from one customer to another. However, in 2018, I began selling online after joining a digital marketing course conducted by an e-commerce platform.

“I focused on selling through that platform for only six months because I couldn’t manage the overwhelming demand at the time. After that, I felt more comfortable marketing and promoting my carvings through my Facebook page, ‘Embun Warisan Kayu’,” she said.

Hamizah, who holds a Diploma in Wood Craft Arts, added that the knowledge and skills in online product promotion she gained through the e-commerce platform continue to be applied today, significantly boosting her sales.

Still operating from the same workshop, Hamizah now serves customers from across Malaysia, and most notably, her hand-carved pieces have also been commissioned by the Royal Family of Perlis.

Meanwhile, printing and graphic design entrepreneur Nurhazirah Hussin, 34, from Felda Chuping near Padang Besar, said courses provided by NADI Felda Chuping have greatly boosted her confidence and skills in using online platforms to sell her products.

She first learned about NADI’s services in late 2023 before actively participating in its courses and entrepreneurial guidance programmes the following year. These included training in photography and financial management.

"Through this photography course, I learned techniques for taking photos and videos of products, as well as how to edit them before uploading them on social media platforms," she said

“Through the photography course, I learned techniques for taking and editing photos and videos of my products before uploading them on social media,” said Nurhazirah, who started her business in 2018.

She added that NADI also provided guidance on more effective digital marketing techniques through various e-commerce channels, which has helped her earn a more lucrative income.

Nurhazirah said her products remain in high demand from both new and returning customers, particularly during the annual Teacher’s Day celebration.

“For me, NADI’s services are excellent. Besides offering entrepreneurial courses, they also provide networking opportunities with other entrepreneurs, allowing us to exchange ideas and experiences.

“I hope NADI can serve as a checkpoint for entrepreneurs, a place to renew their drive, gain knowledge, and refine their business direction,” she said, adding that she had previously worked as a clinical assistant at a private hospital in Ipoh for seven years before resigning in 2017.

According to its official website (https://www.nadi.my/infonadi/), NADI is an initiative implemented by the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) under the Universal Service Provision (USP).

Its objectives include providing collective internet access to communities, especially in rural areas and from areas with less service coverage, as well as empowering communities through more sustainable and relevant programmes to bridge the digital, knowledge and socio-economic gaps

-- BERNAMA