Northern Craft Festival Platform to Strengthen Local Craft Promotion

Perlis, Malaysia, is currently hosting the Northern Craft Festival (FKU) 2026, bringing together 72 craft entrepreneurs from various regions of Malaysia. The event, which runs from July 23 to August 3 at Kraftangan Malaysia's Perlis branch, showcases a diverse range of crafts, including textiles, agricultural products, metalwork, forest products, and other artisanal creations.

The festival was officially opened by Datin Marzita Mansor, Chairperson of Women, Family, and Community Development for the state, representing the Menteri Besar. She was accompanied by Datuk Shaharuddin Abu Sohot, Secretary-General of the Ministry of Tourism, Arts, and Culture (MOTAC), and Abdul Halim Ali, Director-General of Kraftangan Malaysia.

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The response received this year is very encouraging and the organization of the festival is hoped to become an attraction for domestic tourism.

During the event, Shaharuddin visited various stalls, interacting with entrepreneurs and craft communities. The festival includes a craft sales area, interactive demonstrations, and exhibitions of new craft products, with a special focus on the identity of northern Malaysian states, alongside an exhibition from the National Craft Institute (IKN).

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We also want to encourage domestic tourism so that we can develop this industry and reduce the outflow of our tourists.

Shaharuddin highlighted FKU 2026's role as a crucial meeting point for craft entrepreneurs and domestic buyers, including export companies, government agencies, hotels, and shopping malls. He noted the strong response to this year's festival, expressing hope that it will significantly boost domestic tourism and encourage more Malaysians to explore their own country, thereby supporting the local industry and reducing outbound travel spending.

Looking ahead, Shaharuddin announced that the Malaysia International Craft Fair (MICF) will take place at the Kuala Lumpur Craft Complex from September 24 to October 5. Rebranded from the National Craft Day, MICF will coincide with the Formula 1 race to attract international visitors. This initiative aims to enhance the image of Malaysia's craft industry globally, expand market reach for local products, and further stimulate domestic tourism.

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This is one of the programs we are highlighting to promote local craft products. We hope those who come for F1 will also visit this program.