KOTA KINABALU, Sept 23 — The entrepreneurship development programme conducted by Institut Keusahawanan Negara Bhd (Insken) has enhanced the potential of entrepreneurs and improved their business and marketing skills to enable them to become more competitive.
Entrepreneur Development and Cooperatives Minister Datuk Seri Dr Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar said with more outstanding and competitive entrepreneurs being produced, more jobs could be created besides improving the economic well-being of the society.
“Business coaching and enhancement programmes can improve the entrepreneurial potential of traders and further change their mentality towards this field. They are also better prepared to face challenges.
“Entrepreneurs are encouraged to attend business coaching and enhancement programmes to enable them to increase sales revenue,” he said at the Insken Business Coaching (IBC) and Business Enhancement Programme (BEP) 2020 certificate presentation ceremony here Tuesday.
Also present were Cooperatives Commission of Malaysia executive chairman Datuk Nordin Salleh and Insken chief executive officer Muhd Firdaus Azharuddin.
Muhd Firdaus said Insken is on the right track as it is offering various initiatives to improve the competitive edge of entrepreneurs throughout the country.
Through participation in these coaching and enhancement programmes, 61 of the participants were able to increase sales revenue by 20 per cent within four months.
“The increase in sales revenue recorded is a positive achievement and should be further improved,” he said.
He lauded the mentoring session by industry players during the programmes, which has enabled entrepreneurs to be more closely supervised.
“The programmes were featured throughout the movement control order period to encourage entrepreneurs to stay in their respective industries.
“To ensure that entrepreneurs continue to be the driving force of the industry, Insken has introduced online business coaching programmes on social media platforms and WhatsApp,” he said.
Muhd Firdaus said Insken provides 11 programmes that can help entrepreneurs in various industries and will continue to add initiatives that suit the needs of entrepreneurs.
So far, about 2,000 participants have attended Insken’s programmes, as well as that of the IBC and BEP, he added.
“Currently, IBC programmes in Sabah are held specifically for cafe and restaurant entrepreneurs, while BEP is a business enhancement initiative for entrepreneurs from other industries.
“The programme, which is in its fourth year, has gathered 46 Sabah entrepreneurs and the certificate recipients comprised 18 entrepreneurs who have completed a comprehensive IBC training and another 24 who have created new job opportunities,” he said.
— Bernama
