ALOR SETAR: The government will intensify efforts to help local entrepreneurs digitise their businesses to increase income, said Deputy Finance Minister 1, Datuk Wira Othman Aziz.
He said the efforts would be further continued at the grassroot level, and as Jerlun Member of Parliament as well as Jerlun Umno Vice-Chief, he would organise early awareness programmes for the business community particularly the youth community.
“The government is aware of our future direction and do not want the people to lag behind.
“We are also aware that people in the rural areas in category B40 and middle 40 per cent household income (M40) are involved in business and want to help improve their sales income through programmes organised by government agencies, for example, eUsahawan and eRezeki by Malaysia Digital Economy Corporation Sdn Bhd (MDEC).
Othman said early exposure must be given so that the entrepreneurs especially youths were able to expand their business network via social media platforms to enable them to generate bigger income every month.
He said to date, some 70,000 entrepreneurs had registered to participate in eUsahawan, and out of this number, 50,000 had been successfully trained by MDEC.
“In fact, about 17,000 entrepreneurs have succeeded in increasing their incomes as a result of the training they have received,” he said.
The eUsahawan programme is targeted at entrepreneurs who have not capitalised on the digital platform in their business particularly petty traders.
“The programme also provided encouragement to many students in institutes of higher learning to become entrepreneurs while they are still studying, through this platform,” he added.
Bank Negara Malaysia, with the cooperation of MDEC has organised a workshop and briefing on eUsahawan and eRezeki at the Kedah Financial Carnival here, which have benefited over 1,700 participants. — Bernama