Indian Muslim entrepreneurs in Sarawak: business strategies and research agendas

The migration of Indian Muslim traders to Sarawak was influenced by various factors, including trade networks, economic opportunities, cultural connections, colonial influence, and migration patterns. These factors create a favourable environment for Indian Muslim traders to establish themselves in Sarawak and engage in trade with local communities. Their participation in trade, entrepreneurial spirit, and cultural affinities with local communities contributed to the region's economic and cultural growth. The historical presence of Indian Muslim traders later to be called entrepreneurs in Sarawak highlights their significant role in shaping the region's commercial landscape and fostering cultural exchange between India and Southeast Asia. In this paper, we highlight the strategies employed by the Indian Muslims to achieve success in their businesses. Secondary data from newspaper report and empirical literature are analyzed to understand the strategies employed by Indian Muslim and arrive the future research recommendations. The strategies found are Indian Muslims focus on niche area marketing, strong network collaborations within Indian Muslim communities and great engagement between Indian Muslims and other local community. This paper also shed light on potential research areas that can be conducted in future to improve sustainability of entrepreneurship in Sarawak.