Gerak Usahawan (an "entrepreneurial movement" programme) is an annual carnival (seminar and expositions) supported by the Malaysian Ministry of Entrepreneur & Cooperative Development (MeCD), geared as a platform for entrepreneurs to learn (from successful ones) and network among each other. This year, BP-ites is getting a taste of their own at the neighborhoods for the first time, this weekend (29-30nov08) -- with previous Gerak Usahawan having been held in Bayan Baru (@Penang International Sports Arena - PISA, July 2006) and Kepala Batas (@ Dewan Milenium, August 2007), some 20+ and 40+ minutes away respectively by driving from this remote town of Balik Pulau.
What a better time for Balik Pulau having seen aggresive development in its local commerce scene, with a new market complex and a brand new Rapid Penang bus hub opened just late last year, and just months ago, seeing for the first time, chain restaurants like Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC) and Kassim Mustafa (KM) opened in town! In fact, in recent weeks, more locals are seen to have opened new eateries including at Simpang Empat (Genting), Taman Sri Indah and near Rapid Penang bus hub, perhaps to supplement their monthly income due to recent price hikes for food and other necessities.
Not minding the brouhahas off the change in local (state) government, affecting even the organizing party for this year's Gerak Usahawan, shifted from state-owned Penang Development Corporation (PDC) to the newly set up Majlis Pembangunan Usahawan Daerah (MPUD - District Entrepreneur Development Council), entrepreneurs ("wira usaha" = "heroes", according to Indonesians) are all out to save the day, to protect local economy, if not global's. [Note however that PDC will still be running a booth at the venue this time, showing its support to the local entrepreneurs via its own set of entrepreneur development programmes].And the local group to watch is Kelab Usahawan Sosial Balik Pulau (KUSBP) or Social Entrepreneurs Club of Balik Pulau (SECBP) with its base at the Pusat Internet Desa Balik Pulau (Rural Internet Centre - PIDBP), poised to catalyze economic and social development in the Southwestern District of Pulau Pinang by promoting and nurturing entrepreneurship skills & passions among the locals:
KUSBP is presently facilitated by Pusat Internet Desa (PID) Balik Pulau as supported by the Ministry of Energy, Water & Telecommunications (KTAK) and assisted by KTAK-appointed Warisan Global Sdn Bhd. For this event, two of Warisan Global staff are present to assist the PID and KUS teams. Visit them at Booth #C10 (in front of the main entrance of Municipal Council (MPPP)'s office) this weekend, Saturday & Sunday, 29th until 30th of November 2008, 9am until 7pm.
Gerak Usahawan 2008 will be officiated by Minister of Entrepreneur & Cooperative Development, Yang Berhormat Dato' Noh bin Haji Omar.
If this will be your first time to Balik Pulau, just drive/ride a bike along the curvacious and hilly Tun Sardon Road via Relau/Sungai Ara or Paya Terubong and once you reach the bottom end from the peak of Anjung Indah Observatory point, you'll see the white tents and the huge market complex (the largest in Penang!) on your right side of the road.
If you'll be on foot, just take a Rapid Penang bus #U401 or #401E from Weld Quay Jetty (ferry stop)/Komtar or other buses (Rapid Penang or Yellow Bus) from any bus stop on the island, and it'll take you through a 60-90 minute ride either from/via Teluk Bahang, Ayer Itam or Teluk Kumbar all the way to the Balik Pulau bus hub, situated just next to the new market complex/site for the Gerak Usahawan event -- BTW, if you need to find out how soon will a Rapid Penang bus reach you at a bus stop, call this number: 04-2381313 (Control Room).
Here's a Google map of Balik Pulau:-
To catch up on this event (posts, photos etc.), live on your mobiles, visit http://m.balikpulau.org
