MOTAC launches National Craft Day 2023, targeting sales of up to RM16 million
KUALA LUMPUR: The Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture (MOTAC) launched the National Craft Day 2023 on Sunday.
According to its Minister, Datuk Seri Tiong King Sing, through the 13-day program, MOTAC aims to increase sales of craft products up to RM16 million throughout the program.
“The craft industry continues to show positive development in an effort to recover from the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2022, sales of craft products increased by 44.4 percent compared to 2021.
“It is hoped that in 2023, sales of craft products will increase to a greater value to support the government’s efforts to improve the national economy in line with the aspirations of a Civilized Malaysia,” he explained.
According to King Sing, MOTAC through Malaysian Crafts will also play a role in line with the national goal of Madani Malaysia based on the aspects of eradicating poverty, restructuring the economy and restoring and generating the economy.
“In the context of the craft industry, this effort is driven by developing and encouraging more people to venture into and work on craft as a primary or secondary source of income.
“This effort is also able to create new workforce and job opportunities in an inclusive manner for all groups. Until 2022, the number of workforce in the craft industry will be as many as 12,108 people.
“The craft industry was also enlivened with the involvement of a total of 6,841 people from the support community which makes the population of the craft industry in Malaysia a total of 25,840 people,” he said.
He said this when launching the National Craft Day 2023 at the Craft Complex, in the nation’s capital on Sunday.
Also present, Member of Parliament for Bandar Tun Razak, Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail and Minister of Communications and Digital, Fahmi Fadzil.
In the ceremony, Dr Wan Azizah also presented the Young Craft Entrepreneur Award to Zulhelmy Hamdan from Ezryhelmy Enterprise while the 2023 Craft Entrepreneur Award went to Muhamad Isa Saad from KWM Craft.
