30 Sarawak SMEs take part in coaching programme
KUCHING: About 30 Sarawakian small and medium enterprises (SMEs) are taking part in the National Institute of Entrepreneurship (INSKEN) Business Coaching (IBC) Sarawak Edition 2019.
According to INSKEN chief executive officer Muhd Firdaus Azharuddin, the IBC is a fourmonth programme involving ‘coaching-mentoring’ by relevant industry coaches as well as benchmark visits.
“IBC is meant to guide entrepreneurs in their business direction and performance besides enabling participants to pick up some skills and technique in business management,” he said at the launch of IBC Sarawak Edition 2019 at a hotel here yesterday.
Assistant Minister of Entrepreneur and SME Development Datuk Mohd Naroden Majais represented Deputy Chief Minister and Minister of Industrial and Entrepreneur Development Datuk Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hasan at the programme launch.
Firdaus said the IBC Sarawak Edition focused on industries such as homestay as well as cafe and restaurant.
He added that other industries that would be included later this year were spa, laundry service and eco-tourism.
“In general, we cover industries namely spa, postnatal care, eco-tourism, managing retail store, laundry service, cafe and restaurant, bakery and food truck.
“This year, INSKEN decides to cover barbershop, car workshop and car wash as well, taking the total number of industries to 11,” he pointed out.
Firdaus disclosed that IBC alumni had successfully recorded an overall revenue of RM2.63 million last year.
He said 61 per cent of the IBC alumni had registered a surge in sales while 194 new jobs were created during the IBC 2018.
Based on these figures, he believed that their counterparts this year will be able to see at least a 20 per cent increase in their revenue this year.
“I have confidence in the guidance and coaching given by our industry coaches who have vast experience in their respective fields,” added Firdaus.