SME CORP GRANTS BOOST BUSINESSES
Small and mediumsized entrepreneurs thank SME Corp for financial boost
DRIVEN by his passion in entrepreneurship and computer, Azwari Azmi took the bold decision to quit his job as an information technology officer with a government agency to venture into business three years ago.
In December 2014, he opened a computer shop at the Universiti Malaysia Perlis (UniMAP) branch campus in Sungai Chuchuh.
The decision proved to be a turning point in his life as in less than two years, his business was generating RM50,000 in monthly revenue.
Azwari thanked the Small and Medium Enterprises Corporation (SME Corp) for the RM51,000 grant, which had helped build his business’s capacity to what it is today.
Yesterday, Azwari and other small and medium-sized entrepreneurs like him received another boost from the corporation.
He received a RM290,948 grant, presented by SME Corp Malaysia chief executive officer Datuk Dr Hafsah Hashim, during the SME Week 2017 event.
Azwari is planning to use the grant to set up an advertising printing facility in Simpang Empat here.
“I never imagined that I would be able to reach this point. Thanks to the backing from SME Corp, I managed to expand my business,” he said.
Azwari said he started the business with only RM10,000 and had limited funds and equipment.
“Eleven months later, my life changed when I received the grant from SME Corp.
“I used the grant to procure computer equipment and offered additional services to my customers such as colour photocopies,” he said.
Azwari said for small entrepreneurs like him, the assistance from SME Corp was crucial as it helped to build his business’s capacity.
Meanwhile, the Small and Medium Enterprises (SME) Week 2017 recorded RM64.24 million potential sales nationwide.
The sales were generated from 474 business-matching sessions involving renowned wholesalers and retailers such as Mydin, Giant, Tesco, Aeon Co, Lulu, Sakan Wholesaler, and Ramly Halal Mart.
Hafsah said the business-matching session this year was also joined by Lazada Malaysia, allowing 99 small and medium scale traders to promote their products online.