KUALA LUMPUR: Sarawak was announced as the winner of the 2025 SDSI Icon Award.

Hajjah Fitriah Haji Rahbi from RFM Global Corporation received a cash prize of RM10,000 along with a certificate of recognition.

RFM Global is a company that innovates and develops products based on 'terung asam', a type of sour brinjal that is native only to Sarawak.

In addition, Sarawak also emerged as the winner of the Pavilion Citra Negeri Award.

The symbolic presentation of the RM10,000 cash prize and certificate was received by Connie Christopher Kesa, who represented the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of International Trade, Industry and Investment Sarawak (MINTRED).

A total of 11 Sarawak-based entrepreneurial companies took part in this edition of the SDSI exhibition, representing clusters such as food and beverages, homestays, personal care, and handicrafts.

Among the featured products were those made from terung asam, linut, gula apong, kek lapis and various handicraft items.

The launch of the Mega 3D Carnival, was officiated by the Prime Minister, Dato’ Seri Anwar Ibrahim, and was a collaborative initiative between the Ministry of Rural and Regional Development (KKDW), the Ministry of Entrepreneur Development and Cooperatives (KUSKOP), and the Federal Land Development Authority (FELDA).

The event showcased three major programmes — the Rural Entrepreneurs Carnival (KUD), the One District One Industry (SDSI) Showcase, and FELDA Settlers' Day (HPF) — all aimed at gathering and celebrating entrepreneurs from across the country.

MINTRED collaborated with several agencies, including the Ministry of Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts (MTCP), the Ministry of Youth, Sports and Entrepreneur Development (MySED), the Sarawak Economic Development Corporation (SEDC), the Department of Agriculture Sarawak (DOA), and CRAUN Research Sdn Bhd.

Also in attendance were Deputy Prime Minister Dato’ Seri Dr. Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, who is also the Minister of Rural and Regional Development (KKDW), Minister of Entrepreneur Development and Cooperatives (KUSKOP) Datuk Ewon Benedick, Chief Secretary to the Government, Tan Sri Shamsul Azri bin Abu Bakar and National Chief of FELDA Settlers, Sulong Jamil Mohamed Shariff. -UKASnews