Malaysia Craft Digital Hub to boost handicraft industry

KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 27 -- The Malaysian Handicraft Development Corporation (MHDC) will further boost the country's handicraft industry activities through its RM20 million pioneer digital platform, Malaysia Craft Digital Hub, which it is currently developing.

MHDC director-general Ibrahim Ismail said the project would provide a new injection to the country's handicraft industry in terms of economy, education and craft learning by providing accessibility to the latest data and information related to the industry.

‘’Indeed, we plan to set up a digital platform in line with the development of the Industrial Revolution 4.0 (IR 4.0), with an easier access so that opportunities can be opened to the rural people especially in rural Sabah and Sarawak.

"With the availability of this technology, communities can learn in their own state and indirectly it will attract more young people to learn the craft industry," he told a news conference after the launching of the National Craft Day 2020 (HKK 2020) at the Kuala Lumpur Craft Complex here. today.

Ibrahim said the digital platform was only in the Bahasa Malaysia version since it was a pilot project and English would be added in the future.

Meanwhile, Ministry of Tourism and Culture secretary-general Datuk Dr Noor Zari Hamat said the digitisation project would would be a shot in the arm and boost the national craft industry.

“There is an increasing interest among young people to join the handicraft industry. So we look for a more systematic method of learning to meet the needs of the people in Sabah and Sarawak, ”he said.

The digital platform encompasses five elements, namely, the e-marketplace, which is an effort to strengthen the digital product marketing and services under the Global Reach Local Identity concept. Through this platform, consumers are offered a wide range of products, raw materials, product designs, after-sales services and entrepreneurial information.

The element of 'Blended learning' is formal and informal learnings that combine the online digital media with traditional methods. This method is applied at the National Craft Institute (IKN) to create a more dynamic learning environment.

The 'E-Services' element offers a variety of online facilities such as craft entrepreneur registration, craft entrepreneur directory application (Craft EGIS), Malaysian entrepreneur directory service and Geospatial Online Service (MyGOS and Craftpay).

The 'Knowledge Management' element is a database that gathers knowledge that can be accessed in digital form such as craft entrepreneurs information, National Craft figures, industry data, market trends, product research and development results.

The element of the 'Digital Craft Museum' is a strategy for bringing people close to the nation's arts and crafts. Various collections of artifacts, materials, manufacturing processes, equipment, National Craft Leaders and Master Craftsmen are presented with new experiences through digital mediums such as Augmented Reality and Virtual Reality.

The National Craft Day 2020 (HKK 2020) from Feb 26 to March 9 at the Kuala Lumpur Craft Complex would focus on strengthening the socio-economy of the people.

At the same time, the National Craft Day Festival 2020 would be held for over a month from tomorrow until March 31 in eight states.

For both events, MHDC targeted sales of RM18 million.

A total of 12 exhibitions would be held during HKK 2020 including the Malaysian Craft Digital Hub, Fine Wood Carving Works Exhibition and Forty Years of Malaysian Craft Exhibition.

-- BERNAMA