Eight Sabah outstanding entrepreneurs receive award
KOTA KINABALU: Eight outstanding entrepreneurs from TEKUN Nasional in Sabah received the ‘Usahawan Berjaya’ Award during the Karnival Tekun Madani dan Showcase Satu Daerah Satu Industri (SDSI) in Kuala Penyu on Saturday.
The award was presented by Entrepreneur Development and Cooperatives Minister Datuk Ewon Benedick.
“This is a form of recognition given to entrepreneurs who have proven to be successful in navigating business challenges amidst the current economic uncertainties. Congratulations to the successful TEKUN Nasional entrepreneurs.
“May the success achieved inspire other entrepreneurs to continue striving,” he said and added that for the first three months of this year, TEKUN Nasional had approved financing totalling RM24.1 million for 1,468 entrepreneurs in Sabah.
“Out of that amount, RM429,000 was distributed to 41 entrepreneurs from the Beaufort Parliament,” he said.
According to Ewon, the informal economy sector such as hawkers and small traders has significant potential to contribute to the national economy and provide job opportunities for the people.
“Informal entrepreneurs usually do not have the tendency to expand their business beyond daily needs. Therefore, the government provides various incentives and stimulus packages to ensure they can continue and develop their business.
“For example, in the presentation of the 2024 Budget, priority was given to continue supporting entrepreneurs to increase business capacity and competitiveness through the provision of small loans to micro-entrepreneurs and small traders,” he pointed out.
Ewon said that RM100 million was allocated to Amanah Ikhtiar Malaysia (AIM) to eradicate poverty and Suruhanjaya Koperasi Malaysia (SKM) Revolving Capital Fund also received an allocation of RM100 million to enhance cooperative capabilities in the supply chain.
“TEKUN was allocated RM330 million to provide financing facilities to small traders. TEKUN Nasional is a government agency to provide easy and fast financing facilities to entrepreneurs to start and further develop their businesses,” he said.
Ewon also announced the implementation of the Skim Pembiayaan Peralatan Perniagaan (S3P) by TEKUN Nasional which is set up to assist entrepreneurs in developing their business with financing assistance for business capital and the purchase of business equipment in one financing.
“The financing value provided ranges from RM1,000 to RM20,000 with an interest rate of four percent per annum,” he said.