PERDA Launches Service Truck To Promote, Market Products Of Rural Entrepreneurs

BUTTERWORTH, Dec 12 (Bernama) -- The Penang Regional Development Authority (PERDA) continues to strengthen its commitment to rural economic development through the launch of the Desamall@PERDA Service Truck, which functions as a mobile promotion and marketing platform for rural entrepreneurs.

PERDA Chairman Datuk Dr. Shaik Hussein Mydin said the initiative is a continuation of the success of the physical Desamall@PERDA premises in Simpang Empat Permatang Buluh, Sungai Dua, here, which has been operating since 2021, thereby opening opportunities for rural products to be widely promoted.

He said this strategic initiative allows various rural products to be brought directly to programmes organised by ministries, national-level expos, state government carnivals, and various other strategic locations that were previously difficult to reach.

“Perhaps many are unaware that one of the seven Desamall@PERDA locations in Malaysia is located in Penang. With the existence of this service truck, the effort to introduce Desamall and PERDA entrepreneurs’ products can be done more effectively.

“This truck is a mobile business stage, shop, and promotion studio to highlight PERDA entrepreneurs' products, and most importantly, we no longer wait for customers to come to us; instead, we bring the products directly to them,” he told reporters after launching the Desamall@PERDA Service Truck at the PERDA Office here today.

Shaik Hussein said that initially, only one truck is provided as a pilot project and more will be added if it receives encouraging response.

Meanwhile, PERDA General Manager Datuk Mohd Asri Baharum said the Desamall platform is a strategy under Pillar 2 of the Ministry of Rural and Regional Development's (KKDW) Rural Development Policy (DPLB), namely Entrepreneurship as a Driver of Economic Development, in line with the government's focus on developing rural products and expanding markets, including through e-commerce.

“We genuinely want to help entrepreneurs increase their market reach and subsequently their income. This is because entrepreneurs, especially small entrepreneurs, still need our support to promote their products.

“Therefore, the launch of the Desamall@PERDA Service Truck becomes an important platform so that promotions can be made faster, thereby helping to introduce rural products to more consumers,” he said.

Currently, there are over 1,700 entrepreneurs under PERDA's guidance covering various fields, but food and beverage products are the main focus for marketing at Desamall, with 269 types of products produced by 113 rural entrepreneurs, and 545 SKUs displayed and promoted on the platform.

-- BERNAMA