RM21 million approved for S’wak’s SMEs

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THE Ministry of International Trade and Industry, Industrial Terminal and Entrepreneur Development approved RM21 million this year up till September for 252 small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in Sarawak.

Minister Datuk Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hasan said for the same period, financial assistance of RM2.4 million was channelled to 25 entrepreneurs under the Gerak (Gerakan ke Arah Keusahawanan) and Ustev (Technical and Vocational Entrepreneurs Programme) programme, which was introduced last year.

He said the financial assistance enabled graduates and students from vocational and technical institutes to start and expand their businesses.

“Other agencies also provided financial assistance of RM282.27 million, which benefited 15,630 entrepreneurs in the state,” he said in his winding up speech at the State Legislative Assembly yesterday.

He said among the agencies were SME Bank, Tekun, Mara, Bank Negara Malaysia, and the Department of Agriculture.

Apart from that, the Malaysia Co-operative Societies Commission also channelled RM14.12 million to 14 co-operatives from January to September this year, he added.