BY: Aida Aziz
IPOH: The Coffee Stories Carnival organized at the end of last year has been incorporated into the Perak Tourism Year 2024 calendar as a means to support local entrepreneurs.
Datuk Salbiah Mohamed, Chairperson of the Women Development Committee, Family, Social Welfare, Cooperative Entrepreneurship Development, stated that this decision was made to extend support to the coffee industry in Perak.
According to her, the previous carnival received an overwhelming response, gathering over 40 coffee entrepreneurs.
“The state government has expressed its support for the coffee industry in Perak through the organization of the Coffee Stories Carnival held at the Sultan Abdul Aziz Recreation Park (Polo Grounds).
“As a result, more than 40 coffee-based entrepreneurs, with support from agencies such as Perak SADC, STeP, the Department of Agriculture, MARDI, FAMA, and others, were gathered under one program.
“The carnival attracted over 5,000 visitors from both within and outside Perak and recorded sales of over RM 80,000,” she said in response to oral questions during the State Legislative Assembly (DUN) session here on Thursday.
She clarified that the coffee program in the 2024 Perak Tourism Year calendar will be given more comprehensive content and closer agency cooperation, particularly with Tourism Perak.
“I also want to promote local coffee entrepreneurs that we should support, including BagiKopi, Ngopdul Roastery, B’ Care Kopi, Kamar Kopi, Kopi & Bulan, Projek Kafein, and Perk&Sip.
“The Northern Corridor Implementation Authority (NCIA) through the empowerNCER Skills Training and Entrepreneurship Program also organizes barista courses in several districts.
“This is to encourage young people to receive skills training to add value and aesthetics to the coffee beverage products they produce,” she added.
She added that these efforts could enhance the capacity and productivity of local entrepreneurs to compete on par with leading coffee brands.
“There are over 100 coffee shops of various brands operating throughout the state of Perak.
“Not only in shop lots, but some also operate from homes like KopiDepanRumah and in alleyways like behind-the-alley shops in Ipoh,” she emphasized.
