Deputy Miri Resident Abdul Aziz Mohd Yusuf (right) presenting a memento to Samat.
MIRI: Entrepreneur Development and Halal Industry Unit of the Chief Minister’s Department which coordinates entrepreneur development for Sarawak will conduct a survey on Micro Entrepreneur/Bumiputera Cottage Industry in the state.
Assistant Minister in the Chief Minister’s Office (Bumiputera Entrepreneur Development) Datuk Mohd Naroden Majais, who disclosed this, said the survey was necessary because it was found out that most entrepreneurs involved in micro and cottage business were unlicensed and did not register their business with the relevant authorities.
“There are still many business entities or entrepreneurs both full-time and part-time who are yet to register their business with the local authorities due to factors such as non-authorised business premises and the business is conducted on small scale.
“However, these types of entrepreneurs have also contributed to the state’s economy and are active in business activities, including hawkers who open their stalls on the street as well as entrepreneurs running their business at home,” he stated in his address at the 2015 Entrepreneur Roadshow at Subis District Council’s community hall in Niah on Saturday.
Naroden’s text of speech was read by Entrepreneur Development and Halal Industry Unit director Samat Junai.
He hoped with accurate data, the state government would be able to draw comprehensive planning for entrepreneurs to engage in small and medium industry in the state.
He said according to the Economic Census 2011 provided by Statistics Department, a total of 43,380 business entities in the state had been registered.
Out of the total number, he said some 80 per cent or 35,064 were engaged in micro business with annual sales of under RM300,000.
The statistics, he pointed, showed the significant contribution of micro and cottage entrepreneurs to the state’s economic development.
Thus, he said, the government had implemented various programmes to increase the number of entrepreneurs and enterprises in the state.
In addition, trainings, funds and promotions were provided by the government on an on-going basis to ensure the participants get maximum benefits from the programmes, he added.