Awang Tengah (centre) speaks to the media after being briefed about SEDCC. Naroden is seated at second left.
KUCHING: A Sarawak Entrepreneurship Development Coordination Committee (SEDCC) has been established to develop better synergy, create a more effective impact and share resources among entrepreneurs.
Minister of Industrial and Entrepreneur Development, Trade and Investment Datuk Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hasan said that it will be used to collaborate with all agencies and maximise all their resources.
“At the same time, we can structure the mechanism for coordination, orderly and systematic work so there is no overlap in projects or programme,” he said during a press conference yesterday.
Awang Tengah noted that prior to this, their collaborations were on an ad hoc basis.
“Now we want to formalise matters. We discussed with local authorities involved in entrepreneurship and they welcome this,” he said adding that this will also reduce instance of overlap or missing out.
“Sometimes there are too many programmes in one area and nothing at other areas. We want to coordinate better to reach our target groups, especially in rural areas.”
Ultimately, the committee would want to help SMEs, as they are important in contributing to our nation’s economy and workforce.
“According to existing records from SME Corp, more than 90 percent of business establishments in Sarawak comprise of SMEs.”
“SEDCC wants to find answers to questions such as where should there be more premises for SMEs.
“I was informed that there are only nine business premises for SME in Miri, and Miri is the second biggest city in Sarawak.”
He also revealed that out of the over 7,000 business spaces set up by various agencies, only around 5,000 of them were in use.
“I want to know why some are not used. Is it location or high rental?”
SEDCC was set up as a platform for decision and policy making on the entrepreneurship in Sarawak.
To achieve this, they have created five technical committees namely Capacity Building, Financial and Equipment Assistance, Business Premises, Marketing, and Research, Innovation and Creativity.
“We will create a portal to reach out further and inform people about the services we have available. Hope to have this portal up and running by next year. It will connect all the Resident offices in Sarawak together,” said Awang Tengah.
Awang Tengah himself will chair SEDCC, while Assistant Minister for Entrepreneur Development and Small and Medium Enterprises Development Datuk Mohamad Naroden Majais will be vice chairman.