RM79.4 mln disbursed to 255 entrepreneurs in first half of 2017
MEL AKA: Per bad an an Us a ha wan Nasional Bhd (PUNB) approved loans totalling RM79.4 million to 255 entrepreneurs under five financing schemes in the first six months of the year, said Chairman Tan Sri Mohd Ali Rustam.
One hundred and twenty seven entrepreneurs received RM31.1 million from PUNB under the Prosper Retail Scheme, RM19.2 million was disbursed to 4 entrepreneurs under the SME Scheme while RM13.2 million was given to 56 entrepreneurs under the Prosper Teras Scheme.
He said 10 entrepreneurs received RM12.8 million under the Prosper Wholesale Scheme and RM3.1 million was approved to 48 entrepreneurs under the Prosper Young Entrepreneur Scheme.
During the period, PUNB also created 184 companies through the Small and Medium Enterprise (SME) Scheme (4), Prosper Wholesale Scheme (6), Prosper Retail Scheme (83), Prosper Teras Scheme (45), and Prosper Young Entrepreneur Scheme (46).
“PUNB allocated RM200 million in 2017 to assist entrepreneurs in various business sectors. We hope the balance of RM120.6 million can be disbursed to new applicants by year-end,” he told reporters after opening Azzrie Tyre Services cum PUNB Hari Raya open house for Mel aka entrepreneurs in Ayer Keroh near here yesterday.
Mohd Ali said since its inception in 1971, PNB had disbursed RM2.7 billion to more than 9,000 entrepreneurs, out of which RM71 million were allocated to 391 business enterprises in Melaka.
“I hope we can create more Bumiputera entrepreneurs, especially from mid-range and beyond. This will be in tandem with PUNB’s mission to create entrepreneurs who are both resilient and competitive at home and abroad, he added.
Calling on young entrepreneurs to be involved in the automotive sector as it had tremendous potential, he added that Bumiputeras only accounted for about 10 per cent of the 35,000 entrepreneurs in the sector.
As of June 2017, PUNB disbursed RM249.8 million to 1,191 entrepreneurs in the automotive sector, including creating 983 companies in the sector, he said.