RM5 million to help 12,450 graduates

KOTA KINABALU: The Entrepreneur Development and Cooperatives Ministry (KUSKOP) has allocated more than RM5 million to help 12,450 graduates in a programme organised by PROTÉGÉ this year.

Its minister, Datuk Ewon Benedick, said that KUSKOP had also prepared RM30 million in the 12th Malaysia Plan targeting to help 76,690 graduates and undergraduates.

He said that PROTÉGÉ had drafted several important initiatives in line with the National Entrepreneurial Policy to turn Malaysia into an Entrepreneurial Nation by 2030.

“Aside from that, programmes planned are to increase the marketing potential and encourage entrepreneurial skills among graduates.

“Entrepreneurial skills should be taught to undergraduates while at university. Hence KUSKOP has carried out strategic collaboration with the Higher Learning Ministry in several series of ‘KPT Prihatin’ programmes.

“KUSKOP is also in the effort of renewing the Memorandum of Understanding with the Social Security Organisation (SOCSO) for initiatives that can benefit participants and employers taking part in the PROTÉGÉ programmes,” he said when launching the Entrepreneurial and Marketability of Protege, KUSKOP 2023 at Sabah International Convention Centre on Tuesday.

Ewon said that close cooperation between relevant ministries and agencies can help ensure the success of the national agenda.

He said that KUSKOP’s strategic plan for 2023 targets three main objectives which includes preparing a conducive ecosystem to support and spur recovery, growth and stability of the nation’s entrepreneurial sector, increase resilience and competitiveness of entrepreneurs post pandemic and strengthen the delivery service system of entrepreneurs who are effective.

“To realise the targeted objectives, five strategic cores, 24 strategies and 185 programmes or projects have been drawn up covering policy formulation, governance and regulation, capacity development, access to financing, market access, technology adaptation and strengthening of service delivery.

“At the same time, as many as six KPIs (key performance index) have been set and must be achieved under the implementation of this strategic plan,” he said.

Ewon also said that the implementation of all the planned programs or projects will benefit 543,080 individual entrepreneurs and potential entrepreneurs.