NADI Helps Increase Income Of Mesapol residents

SIPITANG, Sept 15 (Bernama) -- The establishment of a National Information Dissemination Centre (NADI) in Mesapol here has paid dividends as it has improved the living standards of residents through the various activities organised to enhance their skills.

NADI Mesapol, which was established in August last year, now has 475 registered members with 30 entrepreneurs successfully assisted.

Acknowledging the significance of closing the digital gap in communications, entrepreneur Siti Zuriadah Mohd Shahrey, 42, from Kampung Sikim Sindumin said after joining NADI, her family income had grown from RM1,000 to RM3,000 a month.

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She said since joining NADI two years ago, she had learned a lot about information technology and the manufacturing process of her products.

“Among my products are satay ikan (fish satay), keropok ubi kayu (cassava crackers), keropok pucuk ubi (sweet potato crackers), Kek lapis (layered cake) and kuih kelupis sejuk beku (frozen cake)," she told Bernama here today.

Earlier, Minister of Communications Fahmi Fadzil spent about 30 minutes at NADI Mesapol to meet staff and entrepreneurs at the centre.

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Another NADI member Afnizah Bungsu, 37, a mother of two, also admitted that NADI had helped flourish the handicraft business that she had been working on for the past 15 years.

The entrepreneur from Kampung Kuala Mengalong said she initially joined NADI out of curiosity, but eventually learned the skills to start a florist business, make hampers and accessories for wedding rituals and receptions.

“This programme taught me a lot about digital communication to upgrade my handicraft business,” she said.

Another businesswoman, Anirah Tedan, 35, said since joining NADI, she had managed to garner a higher demand for her products such as sambal ikan masin (salted fish), kerepek pisang masin (salted banana chips) and other snacks, and this had increased her income up to RM3,000 a month.

“I've only been involved with NADI for two years, at first I went with a friend, but I didn’t expect to become a NADI entrepreneur," said Anirah, who is also a business icon in NADI Kampung Lawa, Beaufort.

NADI Mesapol manager Zuhair Calvin Ng Mohd Firdaus said the centre benefited more than 1,500 residents from 14 surrounding villages and aimed to register 250 new members this year.

“NADI Mesapol helps many residents through programmes provided at the centre through smart services consisting of five cores including entrepreneurship and skills.

“Many community members are interested in becoming entrepreneurs, at the moment there are 30 entrepreneurs under NADI Mesapol and two of them emerged as the best as they now earn three to five times their previous income with the help of NADI Mesapol,” he said.

In addition, Zuhair said NADI Mesapol also holds activities including robotics, health screening, e-sports, e-classes for entrepreneurs and e-classes for students.

-- BERNAMA