By Azian Aziz
KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 28 — Winners of the Selangor Disabled (OKU) Entrepreneurs League programme have the opportunity to exhibit and market their products abroad.
State executive councillor for entrepreneur development Rodziah Ismail said they have received invitations from food festival organisers in London and Canada, thus opening up opportunities for entrepreneurs from this state to penetrate the international market.
“We are considering sending entrepreneurs among the participants of the Selangor Youth Community (SAY) or Koperasi Warga Hijrah Selangor Berhad (Kohijrah).
“Previously, we went to the ‘Selangor Day’ programme in London and we brought products from SAY participants to exhibit,” she said when met after the announcement of Selangor OKU Entrepreneurs Icon and Entrepreneur of Hope organised by SAY Lead at Sunway Putra Hotel, here yesterday.
Regarding the SAY Lead programme which is entering its fourth year, Rodziah said that nine of the best OKU entrepreneurs out of 25 who participated were given the opportunity to present their business in front of Raja Muda of Selangor Tengku Amir Shah and four other judges.
“What is different is that previously, only food and beverage entrepreneurs were involved, this time, there are crafts and services entrepreneurs.
“This time, the organisers did not only take physically disabled entrepreneurs but there are people with bipolar disabilities who look normal but they are actually facing challenging situations in their lives,” she said.
Rodziah added that in terms of judging, entrepreneurs whose products have a big impact on the community, can provide employment opportunities, have elements of the future that can be marketed abroad or can be developed, have commercial value in addition to the perseverance of the entrepreneur were among those who were selected.
The Selangor OKU Entrepreneurs League programme is an initiative of SAY, a non-governmental organisation founded by Raja Muda of Selangor Tengku Amir Shah. Interestingly, in this edition, entrepreneurs who have speech and hearing disabilities also joined the league with the help of a sign language interpreter.
This programme is sponsored by the Fixed Housing Committee, Urban Wellbeing and Entrepreneur Development and has the cooperation of the Selangor Social Welfare Department and the Selangor Public Library Corporation.
