Micro-entrepreneurs receive grants from NCIA-Teraju
Grants to help entrepreneurs develop and expand their businesses in the Northern Corridor
KANGAR
MENTERI Besar Datuk Seri Azlan Man yesterday handed over grants to 15 beneficiaries of the Bumiputera Micro Entrepreneurs Development Programme (MCash) and the Program Dana Mudahcara@ NCIA, jointly implemented by the Northern Corridor, Implementation Authority (NCIA) and the Unit Peneraju Agenda Bumiputera (Teraju).
Thirteen participants under the MCash programme received grants ranging from RM13,000 to RM30,000 in the form of equipment, machinery or business assets to develop and expand their businesses in the Northern Corridor, while two beneficiaries received grants for real estate development under the Program Dana Mudahcara @NCIA.
“Programmes such as MCash and Dana Mudahcara are some of the people-centric initiatives carried out by NCIA. We are happy to collaborate with Teraju to assist Bumiputera micro-entrepreneurs in the Northern Coridor enjoy a better livelihood. This is in line with our ultimate objective of achieving ‘Growth with Social Equity’,” said NCIA chief executive Datuk Redza Rafiq.
“We believe grants such as these will act as catalysts for these microentrepreneurs in their efforts to develop their businesses, which in turn will help uplift the socio-economic status of Bumiputeras, specifically in Perlis. This is also in line with the 2050 National Transformation (TN50) objective to create a thriving and vibrant economic environment,” he added.
The 13 beneficiaries of the MCash programme are involved in businesses such as food and beverage, health and spa products, barber shop, laundry services, computer industry, as well as design and printing. The grants are mainly targeted at graduates of local training institutions or universities.
“NCIA and Teraju have also formulated two methods to measure the impact of MCash on the beneficiaries. This includes the MCash 20 Entrepreneurs Guidance programme, where 20 participants are selected for further development, as well as an Output and Outcome Evaluation programme,” said Redza.
“We are confident MCash will not only help these micro-entrepreneurs expand their businesses, but also increase the longevity of Bumiputera SMEs enterprises,” he added.
Meanwhile, the Program Dana Mudahcara @NCIA was established in collaboration with the Unit Kerjasama Awam Swasta (UKAS), under the Prime Minister’s Office.
A grant of 15 per cent of the overall cost eligible for infrastructure components and equipment acts as a catalyst for investment by Bumiputera companies, especially in high impact National Key Economic Areas sectors. Minimum cost of projects for consideration to receive funding is at least RM500,000.
About 200 participants attended the half-day entrepreneur programme, which included a forum, talks and a Business Clinic, besides exhibition booths at Dewan Warisan Kangar. Present at the event were Perlis state executive council member Ahmad Bakri Ali and Teraju senior director Norizan Sharif.