PEDi helps entrepreneurs expand market, lift their socioeconomic status

BUKIT MERTAJAM: The government's effort to establish the Digital Economy Centre (Pedi) is highly appreciated by small entrepreneurs as it allows them to expand the market for their products and raise their socioeconomic status.

Fuuaida Firdaus, 44, said since taking an online marketing tutorial at the Taman Prestij Pedi in Balik Pulau, she saw a surge in demand for her marble cakes, which she has been selling since 2020.

"I operate the business from home. Previously, orders came mainly from residents in the vicinity because I did not know how to market my product via the Internet; moreover, my house at the time was not equipped with computer facilities.

"However, since being introduced to Pedii, I have gained much marketing knowledge. With the assistance of the Pedi staff, I learned ways to grow my business," she told Bernama.

 

She said she subsequently began marketing her product online.

"Sales increased by about 60 per cent, and many bookings came in during the festive season," said the entrepreneur, who is assisted by her husband Ahmad Najib Mat Noor, 44.

Fuuaida said that previously, she would receive only two to three orders weekly but now orders come in almost daily and her product has begun to become known outside of Penang.

She expressed hope that the government would do more promotional activities to inform the people, especially those in the villages, about services offered by Pedi as many villagers still do not know that Pedi has many functions such as being a centre providing internet services and marketing courses.

Meanwhile, for seamstress Siti Noorhidayah Omar, 27, the assistance from Pedi has enabled her to increase her monthly income to over RM1,000.

"I have been selling clothes as well as baby products that I sew myself since six years ago. However, I only started to conduct business online early this year after participating in a marketing course at the Tasek Gelugor Pedi.

"In the past, I managed only to earn less than RM1,000 a month, but having learnt how to promote products on social media, I am now able to reap more, to the extent that I even had to decline to take some orders due to the sheer number of orders received," she said.

The mother of three added that doing business online offers more flexibility for a housewife like her, as she is able to entertain customers while doing housework and managing her children.

Fuuaida and Siti Noorhidayah were among the entrepreneurs who participated in the recent Penang Connectivity Enhancement and Entrepreneur Development Carnival at the Seberang Perai Polytechnic which was organised by the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission and the Penang Bumiputera Development Council (MPBPP).

The two-day carnival ending yesterday was officiated by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim and also attended by Communications Minister Fahmi Fadzil.

– BERNAMA