MAHA 2024: NEKMAT Aims To Export 'ENNA' Products Through International Collaboration

SERDANG, Sept 16 (Bernama) -- The National Fishermen's Association (NEKMAT) aims to export products under the 'ENNA' brand to overseas markets through collaboration with several companies from Brunei, Indonesia, and the European Union.

NEKMAT general manager Azrin Shah Ismail said the association intends to take the opportunity through its involvement in the Malaysian Agriculture, Horticulture and Agro Tourism Exhibition (MAHA) 2024 to expand the market for fishery products throughout the country and international markets.

Among the ENNA products to be widely marketed domestically and abroad are chicken nuggets, fish nuggets, fish rays, and fish crackers.

"Since Sept 11, we have received requests from 13 domestic and foreign companies to have business matching with us. Some want to see the product and devise a way to bring it into their country's market," Azrin told Bernama on the fourth day of MAHA held here.

He said previously, ENNA products were only marketed domestically, particularly in Peninsular Malaysia through appointed sales agents, mini markets, supermarkets, and online platforms such as NEKMATBIZ.

Meanwhile, NEKMAT hopes to record sales of at least RM100,000 with 85 percent of demand coming from the local market during the MAHA event.

ENNA products previously only contributed one percent to NEKMAT's income, but he is optimistic to increase it to 10 percent next year. Last year, NEKMAT recorded revenue of RM800 million, with ENNA products contributing RM6 million.

NEKMAT also carries out various other economic activities such as supplying subsidised diesel fuel to fishermen, fish marketing, supply of fishery sector inputs, as well as the production and marketing of ice and fishery products.

Apart from that, it is also currently implementing a new project involving the construction of shrimp ponds. In the initial stage, four ponds will be built that are capable of producing 8 to 10 tonnes of shrimp per cycle.

"This project is expected to be completed in November, and we will start operations in February next year," said Azrin.

Profits from all of NEKMAT's economic activities are expected to contribute to the payment of a dividend of around seven percent to the 13 state fishermen associations (PNN) that are its members.

Azrin also said the association intends to attract the interest of the younger generation to venture into the fishing industry by introducing the latest technology such as artificial intelligence (AI) which facilitates monitoring through applications. Hopefully this will change the perception that the fishing industry does not have a bright future. "Food industries such as fisheries are important in improving the country's food security policy and reducing dependence on food imports and foreign labour," added Azrin.

-- BERNAMA