Naroden (front, third left) with other guests and participants after the launch of the event. — Photo by Jeffery Mostapha
KUCHING: Bumiputeras in the state should make entrepreneurship a way of life.
Assistant Minister in Chief Minister’s Office (Bumiputera Entrepreneurs Development) Datuk Mohd Naroden Majais said, the people should look at entrepreneurship as more than just doing business.
“Our people, both business and non-business communities, should make entrepreneurship the way of life. We want Sarawak to be an entrepreneurial state towards achieving high income economy status.
“For non-Bumiputeras, it is easy because the culture has been instilled in them since young but for the Bumiputeras, they need to change their mindset especially the school-leavers and unemployed graduates,” he stressed.
He advised all Sarawakians, Bumiputeras and non-Bumiputeras, to grab the opportunities provided by the government to develop and encourage entrepreneurship.
He said that the government through Bumiputera Agenda Steering Unit (Teraju) under Prime Minister’s Department
for instance, had allocated RM15 million to the Entrepreneur Development Fund Scheme under the Sarawak Bumiputera Entrepreneur Development Unit (UPUB) to facilitate entrepreneurial capacity and infrastructure efforts in the state.
He said this when speaking to reporters after officiating at the pre-launch of INSKEN500 Startup Business Training and Coaching (INTACT) organised by National Entrepreneurship Institute (INSKEN) at the old State Legislative Assembly (DUN) here yesterday.
Naroden, who is also Assistant Resource Planning Minister, said the government had introduced numerous mechanisms to assist entrepreneurs across the country.
“Since two years ago, the government has allocated RM104.2 million to assist our entrepreneurs in doing 41 projects, involving a total investment of RM748.5 million and providing 1,650 job opportunities,” he said, adding that among the projects were property development and real estate, oil and gas, tourism and food industry.
He said for one to qualify for funding, the proposed project must be at least RM2.5 million.
He added that apart from allocating funds to eligible entrepreneurs, the government through relevant agencies would continue to assist those involved in cottage industry.
“A lot of them (cottage industry) are still operating at home and as long as they are operating at home, they will face difficulties in getting halal certificate.
“So to facilitate them in getting halal certificate later on, we have to assist them by providing proper premises for them to operate,” he said.
Naroden said the programme, which was attended by some 300 participants yesterday, was the latest in government’s efforts to help develop the small and medium entrepreneurs.
Director of UPUB and Halal Hub Unit in Chief Minister’s Department Samat Junai, and INSKEN executive director Norizan Sharif also attended the press conference.