19 September 2020, (Saturday) @ 10:00am | Zoom Meeting
<aside> 💡 Watch recorded video **HERE** , if you have missed our LIVE session.
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Boosting Local Sarikei Businesses is part of the Virtual Sarikei Webinar Series (VSWS) that allows Sarikeians to be connected virtually while adapting to the new normal during this COVID-19 time.
We would like to encourage entrepreneurs of Sarikei to join us for an informal dialogue session that allow us to hear the stories behind two local Sarikeian entrepreneurs about how they started their business journey and challenges they faced over the years.
During this session, we will hear the fascinating stories behind these local businesses. How they got started, their entrepreneurial journeys and the challenges they faced while running and growing their businesses.
This virtual coffee webinar will be moderated by Malcolm Wu - SMA | Sarikei Innovation Center and joining us are Ngu Tung King - Director of Ngu Brothers Trading Co and Vincent Chieng - Founder of Yi Garden.
Ngu Brothers Trading Co is a family business producing locally processed coffee beans and powder while preserving the traditional Sarawak method of coffee making. This is Sarikei's very own coffee producer since 1972 and it has reached to the third generation mark.
The grandfather of Ngu Tung King started off working in a local coffee shop processing coffee beans. From there his grandfather gained the skills and knowledge on how coffee beans are processed that enabled him to start his own small coffee processing business. At that time, his grandfather bought 20 gunnies worth of coffee beans from Kuching, increasing over time to 30 gunnies as his business got established.
Tung King's father, Ngu Nge Kiong helped to build the business since 1980 and now this family business has the capacity to process 200-300kgs of coffee beans per day. Now in its third generation the business imports beans from around the world via Kuala Lumpur and has increased its annual revenue from RM28,000 to RM1.5m (in 2017).
Yi Garden was established in 2018 by three young locals with a vision to create something new and different in Sarikei. Hence, the concept of this fusion cafe was hatched.
The founders spotted a classic, traditional wooden house nearby the Sarikei town and immediately the inspiration kicked in. The concept, to provide customers a very homely dining experience, as if you are back in your grandparents kampung surrounded by greenery, friends and family.
With the addition of Yi Garden to Sarikei, the local community has an exciting new option to get together for a nice meal or to hang out with friends in a relaxing yet familiar environment.
It is an informal dialogue / networking session that is hosted online instead of in-person. Fun fact, we want you to have a cup of coffee (or it can be your favourite drink) with you during this session.