KOTA BELUD, Jan 8 — The Entrepreneur Development and Cooperatives Ministry (Kuskop) and agencies under its purview have implemented 187 programmes throughout last year which have benefitted 755,909 entrepreneurs nationwide.
Its minister Datuk Ewon Benedick said Kuskop had also introduced and implemented over 22 new programmes, schemes, and assistance for the same period.
For the same year, 292,530 people nationwide benefitted from micro-credit financing, entrepreneurship grants, soft loans and alternative financing involving RM5.09 billion channelled by agencies under Kuskop.
“The financing includes microcredit, entrepreneur grants, soft loans, and alternative financing for us to help all our entrepreneurs,” he said at the Kadamaian Development Launch Ceremony in conjunction with the Kadamaian Christmas Celebration Open House today.
Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi officiated the ceremony.
Ewon said through the entrepreneurship cultural programme, 326,474 micro, small, and medium enterprise (MSME) entrepreneurs have participated in 24 programmes implemented by the ministry and its agencies.
“This year, Kuskop has implemented several new initiatives and projects, including the ‘Program Rangsangan Koperasi Pelancongan’, under the Cooperatives Commission of Malaysia (SKM), and ‘Projek Tamu Desa’,” he said.
Increasing the participation of MSME entrepreneurs in high-impact industries to strengthen the domestic supply chain and global value chain is one of Kuskop’s main aspirations this year to continue development programmes and strengthen the entrepreneurs involved.
At the same event, Ewon also thanked the Federal government for upgrading the main roads in the area, which makes it easier for the villagers to market their agricultural produce and provide comfort to tourists and visitors.
— Bernama
