KOTA SAMARAHAN: Successful entrepreneurs will not only change their own lives, but also shape the development of the country, said Sarawak Economic Development Corporation (SEDC) chairman Datuk Talib Zulpilip.
“The more entrepreneurs, the more successful the country,” he said at the Kota Samarahan Industrial Training Institute yesterday, adding that the government is keen on seeing entrepreneurs excel in their business.
Talib, also Assistant Minister of Tourism and Heritage, was attending the closing ceremony of the Business Management Course and equipment handover for 1Azam and Putera participants in the Kota Samarahan area.
A total of 68 participants attended the two-day course.
Around 30 of them, who are hard core poor residents, were given entrepreneurial training under the 1Azam programme.
The rest, who are small-time entrepreneurs, received equipment like ice shavers and refrigerators to assist them in their business under the Putera programme.
Talib stressed on the importance of practising an entrepreneurial culture of discipline, cleanliness, quality control and attentiveness to customers.
“The government gives plenty of opportunities for entrepreneurs to take advantage of. What we hope for is that you become more pro-active traders,” he added.
The course was aimed in exposing participants to ways on how they can own their own business, how to run their business, deal with marketing and accounting.
Talib also advised the participants to be wise when choosing candidates in the coming election.
“There is no need to wait to become a YB (elected representative) before serving the community,” he said, adding that it is easy to see which candidates have been helping the people and which only turn up before elections.
Also present were Mohd Ainie Wahab, representing Muara Tuang assemblyman Datuk Seri Mohammad Ali Mahmud; and SEDC Entrepreneur Development Division director Jamaludin Yusof.