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Daily Express
04-05-2025
- Business
- Daily Express
Micro, Small and Medium Enterprise Hub to empower sabah entrepreneurs
Published on: Sunday, May 04, 2025 Published on: Sun, May 04, 2025 By: Sisca Humphrey Text Size: Ewon (centre) signs the MSME Hub plaque and new office witnessed by others. PENAMPANG: The launch of SME Corp Malaysia's new office and the Sabah Micro, Small and Medium Enterprise (MSME) Hub on Saturday marked a significant step forward in the Federal Government's efforts to empower local entrepreneurs, particularly in Sabah. Minister of Entrepreneur Development and Cooperatives, Datuk Ewon Benedick, said the initiative was inspired by his vision to provide accessible facilities and advisory services for the business community in Sabah. 'This hub serves as a one-stop centre for business owners to obtain guidance and information on government entrepreneurship programmes,' he said during the launch at Donggongon Square, here. In 2024 alone, 10,035 entrepreneurs visited SME Corp's physical hubs, with 2,607 visits recorded in the first quarter of this year. Ewon also announced the continuation of the Bumiputera Enterprise Enhancement Programme (BEEP) Plus in 2025, following its positive reception in Sabah and Sarawak. 'I'm pleased with the outcomes of this programme, which aligns with the 'Look East Within the Country' initiative and is tailored specifically to support micro-enterprises in East Malaysia,' he said. As part of the initiative, 15 local entrepreneurs received a total of RM841,099.97 in grants. SME Corp Malaysia Chairman Tan Sri Datuk Seri Bernard Giluk Dompok said the launch was a major milestone under Ewon's leadership in boosting Malaysia's entrepreneurial ecosystem. 'The opening of this hub not only brings the Minister's vision to life but also demonstrates Kuskop's commitment to expanding access to business support,' he said. He also thanked industry players and strategic partners for their continued support in developing the MSME sector. SME Corp CEO Rizal Dato' Nainy said the MSMEs form the backbone of the Malaysian economy, comprising 96.9 per cent of all business establishments. 'This year, we're focusing on digitalisation and global competitiveness. We aim for over 90 per cent of enterprises to digitalise operations by the end of 2025,' he said, adding an MoU with Malaysia Digital Economy Corporation (MDEC) will further support financing, digital tools and training. He encouraged local entrepreneurs to fully use the facilities at the Hub and participate in national-level events like SME Venture @ Asean 2025, scheduled for October in Kuala Lumpur. Ewon urged members of the local business community to be proactive in seeking out information on government assistance, funding opportunities and market access. 'As entrepreneurs, you need to take initiative — get informed, explore your options and make the most of the support systems available,' he said. * Follow us on Instagram and join our Telegram and/or WhatsApp channel(s) for the latest news you don't want to miss. * Do you have access to the Daily Express e-paper and online exclusive news? Check out subscription plans available. Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express's Telegram channel. Daily Express Malaysia
Borneo Post
03-05-2025
- Business
- Borneo Post
First MSME Hub in East Malaysia to boost Sabah entrepreneurs
Ewon (middle) expresses his excitement over the opening of the MSME Hub Sabah. Dompok is at left and at right is SME Corp Malaysia Chief Executive Officer Rizal Dato Nainy. PENAMPANG (May 3): SME Corp Malaysia launched its new office and the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprise (MSME) Hub Sabah branch here on Saturday. Entrepreneur Development and Cooperatives (KUSKOP) Minister Datuk Ewon Benedick described the occasion as a historic event, as it marks the first of its kind to be established in East Malaysia. He said the MSME hub he had long envisioned was developed to provide facilities for the business community and aspiring entrepreneurs in Sabah, particularly in the Penampang district. He said that the hub shall serve as a one-stop centre for MSME to obtain advisory services from business counsellors and access information on entrepreneurship programmes offered by the government. 'I am truly excited to witness the effectiveness of this hub, and I hope the facility will be well utilised by all,' he said. 'This is because, as I was informed, in 2024 a total of 10,035 MSME physically visited the SME Corp Malaysia MSME Hub, while 2,607 MSME visited the hub between January and March 2025.' He added that with the launch of this hub, it will be easier for MSME in Sabah to obtain fast, accurate, and comprehensive information on entrepreneurship and business, explore business opportunities, learn best business practices, and access essential information on starting a business, market access, human capital development, financial resources, industry updates, and various other aspects of business. Ewon said this during the launch of the BEEP Plus Programme in Donggongon, near here, on Saturday, which was also attended by the chairman of SME Corp. Malaysia, Tan Sri Datuk Seri Panglima Bernard Giluk Dompok. 'I am pleased with the success of the programmes we have introduced, especially for micro-enterprises in East Malaysia (Sabah and Sarawak), in line with the Look East Within the Country policy that I have initiated. Considering the positive response from MSME in Sabah and Sarawak, the BEEP Plus programme will continue to be implemented in 2025,' he said. During the event, Ewon also announced that 15 MSME entrepreneurs from Sabah would be receiving grants under the BEEP programme. Commending the recipients, Ewon said they represented Bumiputera MSME entrepreneurs in Sabah who have demonstrated strong potential and the commitment required to qualify for the grants, which total RM841,099.97. 'I hope and pray that all of you will achieve outstanding success and contribute to the socio-economic development of your respective districts and of Sabah,' he said. Ewon also reminded that the year 2025 marks the final year of the 12th Malaysia Plan and that planning and groundwork have already begun for the 13th Malaysia Plan (13MP). 'Efforts to upscale business size through MSME scaling strategies will be a key focus of national MSME development for the period from 2026 to 2030,' he said. Ewon also revealed that, based on data analysed by the Department of Statistics Malaysia, the number of micro enterprises in 2023 declined by 6.9%, falling to 767,421 from 923,667 in 2022. Meanwhile, the number of small enterprises increased by 35.8%, and medium enterprises grew by 7.9%, he said. 'These figures demonstrate the effectiveness of government policies and interventions through the implementation of targeted programmes and initiatives for MSME. In efforts to stimulate the growth of more resilient and sustainable MSME, the government remains committed to intensifying efforts to empower MSME, particularly in facing future challenges and uncertainties,' he said. At the same time, Ewon reaffirmed that KUSKOP remains firmly committed to supporting MSME in their transition towards digitalisation. 'This has become a central agenda within various government policies and strategies under the 13th Malaysia Plan (13MP), building on the momentum of the 12MP Mid-Term Review, which set a clear target of having 90 per cent of MSME digitalise their business operations by 2025,' he said. He added that, in line with this agenda, KUSKOP — through SME Corp Malaysia — signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Malaysia Digital Economy Corporation (MDEC) on 25 March 2025. The collaboration aims to ensure that MSME receive holistic support, including access to financing, digital tools, and capacity building, to facilitate their successful transition into the digital economy. The government remains committed to ensuring that MSME are not left behind in the rapidly evolving digital landscape.
Daily Express
03-05-2025
- Business
- Daily Express
New Sabah MSME hub opens as one-stop centre for entrepreneurs
Published on: Saturday, May 03, 2025 Published on: Sat, May 03, 2025 By: Sisca Humphrey Text Size: PENAMPANG: The official opening of SME Corp Malaysia's new office and the Sabah Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) Hub on Saturday, marks another milestone in the Federal Government's commitment to empowering local entrepreneurs, particularly in the State. Minister of Entrepreneur and Cooperatives Development Datuk Ewon Benedick said the opening of the Sabah MSME Hub in Penampang was a historic moment and an initiative inspired by his own vision to provide facilities for the business community and aspiring entrepreneurs in the State. 'This hub will serve as a one-stop centre for MSMEs to receive business advisory services and information on government entrepreneurship programmes,' he said. He also emphasised that in 2024, a total of 10,035 MSMEs had visited SME Corp. Malaysia's physical hubs, with 2,607 visits recorded in the first quarter of 2025 alone. Ewon also announced the continuation of the BEEP Plus Programme this year, following its encouraging reception among MSMEs in Sabah and Sarawak. 'I'm very pleased with the results of this programme, which was created especially for micro-enterprises in East Malaysia. It aligns with the 'Look East Within the Country' policy that I introduced,' he said. He later presented RM841,099.97 in grants to 15 qualified Sabah-based MSMEs under the programme. * Read full report in tomorrow's print paper or log in or sign up for e-paper and premium online news access. * Follow us on Instagram and join our Telegram and/or WhatsApp channel(s) for the latest news you don't want to miss. Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express's Telegram channel. Daily Express Malaysia
Yahoo
06-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Digital Minister Gobind Singh Deo urges all parties to support, empower women in digital world
Digital Minister Gobind Singh Deo has called on all parties to provide ongoing support to women, particularly those from the B40 group, to thrive in e-commerce and the digital sphere. He said statistics showed that women in the B40 group faced challenges in fully capitalising on opportunities in the digital economy. 'Nearly 220,000 female entrepreneurs have ventured into e-commerce through various platforms, but only 12.63 per cent received training beyond their initial participation,' said Gobind. 'This indicates that many still need continuous guidance, not just to be present on digital platforms, but to compete and thrive.' He said this in his opening speech at EmpowerHER Digital 2025 at SME Corp Malaysia in Kuala Lumpur this morning. Gobind added that data showed nearly 57,000 women selling online had recorded no sales, while most earned less than RM1,000. 'I am confident that when more women are given opportunities in the digital economy, it will not only impact individuals but also contribute to community development and positively impact the nation's economy. 'And I don't want this programme (EmpowerHER Digital) to stop here. We must expand EmpowerHER Digital to more states so that more women, whether from urban or rural areas, can benefit from such initiatives.' Gobind also urged all parties to continue supporting and empowering women in the digital world. 'I am confident that by working together, we can shape a Malaysia that is more inclusive, advanced, and prosperous in this digital era.'
