MIRI (Aug 21): The Ministry of International Trade, Industry and Investment (Mintred) helped over 15,000 entrepreneurs in Sarawak endure the Covid-19 pandemic, revealed its minister Datuk Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hasan.
The Deputy Premier said the ministry, through the Sarawak Micro Credit Scheme (SKMS) programme, had channelled aid amounting to RM54.7 million to 1,756 micro, small and B40 entrepreneurs in the state.
The aid was said to be part of the RM100 million allocation approved under the 12th Malaysia Plan in 2020, when the country was in the midst of the challenging pandemic.
“Overall, between 2021 and the second quarter of 2022, my ministry has helped over 15,000 entrepreneurs through financial aid, development capacity and product promotion programme.
“Under the 12MP, an additional RM20 million was approved for Small and Medium Industries Loan Scheme (SPIKS) and so far, Mintred has managed to channel the aid that has benefitted 436 entrepreneurs,” he said in his opening remarks at the Amanah Ikhtiar Entrepreneur Award Ceremony (AIM) Niah here on Saturday.
He said among those who received help under Mintred’s programme were unlicensed retailers who had yet to register for business licence with local government or the district office.
“The ministry helped them register their business so we can have the numbers in our data and in the future, channel other forms of financial aid,” he said.
Awang Tengah also revealed the state government had approved a RM10 million allocation to assist graduates who are still unemployed to hopefully gain employment through the Graduan ke Arah Keusahawanan (Gerak) programme.
“Gerak is a grant which assists graduates interested in starting their own business and expand them later. To date, about 431 graduates have benefitted from the programme and been aided with RM3.79 million.”
Meanwhile, under the Vocational and Technical Entrepreneur (USTEV) programme, RM10 million was also approved to be implemented under 12MP and through the programme, Mintred has assisted 655 entrepreneurs with vocational qualifications and technical skills with grants amount to RM5.66 million.
On the ‘Go Digital’ programme, Awang Tengah said it is a grant specifically to help entrepreneurs involved in online or e-commerce businesses and has helped 600 entrepreneurs with financial aid amounting to RM6 million.
Awang Tengah urged AIM entrepreneurs particularly in Niah district to improve their digital knowledge and skills, as it would greatly help them to explore digital economy and allow them to open more opportunities.
Source: https://www.theborneopost.com/2022/08/21/awg-tengah-mintred-aids-15000-sarawakian-entrepreneurs-during-covid-19-pandemic/