Nanta urges more locals to take up `Rural Business Challenge’

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Nanta and others posing by the banner for `Kapit Fest’.

KAPIT: Deputy Minister of Rural and Regional Development Datuk Alexander Nanta Linggi is on overdrive gear to get more Bumiputeras in the state to participate in the `Rural Business Challenge’ (RBC).

Nanta, who is also Kapit MP, said the national challenge was launched in 2012 and a few entrepreneurs from the state participated, but thus far none had made it to the winners’ list.

“That is why I am working hard to get more participants from Sarawak to make this programme a success. There will be more ‘mini entrepreneur carnivals’ organised all the year round at small towns and cities,” he said at the closing of the 3-day ‘Mini Entrepreneur Carnival @ Kapit Fest 2014’ here yesterday.

Nanta said the primary objective of the RBC was to serve as an opportunity for rural Bumiputera entrepreneurs to promote and exhibit their business.

“Rural business Challenge is a programme to motivate Bumiputera entrepreneurs to become successful and create employment opportunities in the rural areas.”

He said his ministry had set aside RM20 million as prize monies for the winners annually.

The top prize is RM2 million, second prize RM500,000 and third prize RM300,000. The winners are given equipment and materials, not cash, to expand their business.

To spruce up the ambience at Kapit Fest, Nanta introduced the winners of RBC 2012 – first prize winner Solveston Dunit from Kundasang, Sabah, and second prize winner Mohd Shahrul from Kedah – to the crowd.

Dunit is into the tourism industry while Mohd is into duck rearing.

One of the highlights of the function yesterday was the presentation of prizes to the winners of the motor vehicles decoration competition and lucky draw.

Among those present were state Mara director Yusuf Waslie, Kapit Resident Fedrick John George, political secretary to the Chief Minister Wilson Nyabong, Kapit District Officer Elvis Didit, Kapit Mara officer Ailfitri Rahman, TemenggongDato Sri Tan KianHoo and Kapit Women Association chairlady Wong Kie Ing.