Latest news with #ShowcaseUsahawanSarawak
Borneo Post
28-06-2025
- Business
- Borneo Post
Sarawak scales up entrepreneur support through skills, grants, digital tools
Awang Tengah (fourth right) prepares to officiate at SUS 2025, witnessed by (from left) Iskandar, Ripin, Malcolm, Asfia, Naroden, Pang and Dzulkornain. BINTULU (June 28): The Sarawak government remains steadfast in its commitment to enhancing entrepreneurial development across the state. According to Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hasan, the state administration is actively building entrepreneurial capacity through initiatives focused on essential skills such as accounting fundamentals and digital proficiency. He added that between 2021 and April 2025, the State Ministry of International Trade, Industry and Investment (Mintred), together with state and federal agencies, had implemented over 930 capacity-building programmes that had benefitted more than 73,000 entrepreneurs throughout Sarawak. 'Access to business assistance, whether financial or advisory, is crucial for entrepreneurs to start, sustain and grow their ventures,' said Awang Tengah, also the state Minister of Natural Resources and Urban Development, in his opening remarks for the Showcase Usahawan Sarawak (SUS) 2025 at Times Square Megamall here on Friday. The event, which concludes today, was jointly organised by Mintred and its strategic partners. Also present at the opening ceremony were Sarawak State Legislative Assembly Speaker Tan Sri Datuk Amar Mohamad Asfia Awang Nassar; Deputy Minister for Mintred, Datuk Dr Malcolm Mussen Lamoh; Deputy State Minister for Youth, Sports and Entrepreneur Development, Datuk Dr Ripin Lamat; assemblymen Iskandar Turkee (Jepak) and Johnny Pang (Tanjong Batu), as well as Mintred advisor Dato Sri Mohd Naroden Majais and its permanent secretary Dzulkornain Masron. Adding on, Awang Tengah said the Sarawak government had rolled out extensive support programmes through Mintred, as well as departments and agencies including the Department of Agriculture Sarawak, Sarawak Economic Development Corporation (SEDC), and Sarawak Timber Industry Development Corporation (STIDC). 'Mintred alone has channelled RM204 million in assistance to more than 41,800 MSMEs (micro small-and-medium enterprises) in Sarawak under various programmes including the Graduate Towards Entrepreneurship (GERAK) and Technical and Vocational Entrepreneurs (USTEV) , which provide grants of up to RM20,000 to graduates and skilled school-leavers to help them start up and expand their businesses. 'The government also runs the Go Digital programme, offering grants of up to RM10,000 to facilitate the purchase of digital hardware, software and services. 'The Sarawak Micro Credit Scheme (SKMS) provides financial assistance for MSMEs to expand their operations, while the Small and Medium Industry Loan Scheme (SPIKS) supports Bumiputera-owned SMEs in obtaining working capital, purchasing equipment, or renovating business premises. 'Additionally, the 'Jum REGISTA Bisnes', implemented by Mintred in collaboration with other agencies, has helped register 4,280 informal entrepreneurs into the formal business sector.' Awang Tengah thus called upon Sarawak entrepreneurs to actively seize the opportunities offered through these government initiatives to grow and future-proof their businesses. 'To date, over 178,000 entrepreneurs in Sarawak have received support from both state and federal agencies, amounting to more than RM3.3 billion. These efforts will continue to ensure our entrepreneurs thrive and scale up their ventures.' Meanwhile, a total of RM1,556,000 was disbursed to the participants of entrepreneurial assistance, in connection with SUS 2025 here. On the showcase, Awang Tengah highlighted it as a platform not only to showcase and market quality products from across Sarawak's districts and divisions, but also to connect local entrepreneurs with wider markets. 'The 2024 SUS editions in Miri and AEON Mall Tebrau City in Johor Bahru generated RM17.7 million in combined sales, with participation from 100 Sarawakian entrepreneurs. 'One standout success story from SUS in Miri is Watiza Agrofarm Sdn Bhd, a company that produces salted duck eggs. Through business-matching sessions, they achieved RM1 million in potential sales,' he said. Watiza Agrofarm further raised Sarawak's profile at the national level when, on Jan 20 this year, it emerged as a winner in the Rural Business Challenge (RBC) 2.0, organised by the Ministry of Rural and Regional Development (KKDW), which earned it a business grant of RM500,000. The SUS 2025 event also involved the participation of six major retail chains – Emart, Everrise, AEON, Doremart, Mydin, and Mari Mart – with projected sales of RM3 million. In addition, Mintred, in collaboration with the Sarawak Digital Economy Corporation (SDEC), had set up a 'live streaming booth' to enable entrepreneurs promote and sell their products online via TikTok Shop live sessions. Other activities include the 'Kamek Digital Entrepreneurial Transformation Course' at Promenade Hotel Bintulu, which signed up over 150 participants, as well as an embroidery workshop held on the main SUS stage. The next SUS is scheduled to take place at Queensbay Mall in Penang this Aug 28 until Sept 1. Awang Tengah entrepreneurial development Mintred
Borneo Post
28-05-2025
- Business
- Borneo Post
Sarawak's online sellers record RM8 mln gross sales in Q1 2025
Photo for illustration purposes only. — Photo by Pavel Danilyuk/Pexels KUCHING (May 28): Online sellers in Sarawak generated RM8 million in gross sales in the first quarter of 2025, said Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hasan. The International Trade, Industry and Investment Minister said in March 2025, Miri's top online seller Cosfume by Cosmo Online Cosmetics (M) Sdn Bhd recorded over RM540,000 in monthly sales. 'Leading product categories included lifestyle, electronic gadgets, fashion, and collectibles,' he said in his ministerial winding up speech at the State Legislative Assembly (DUN) here today. Awang Tengah also told the august House his ministry facilitates promotions through national and international expos. 'Our programme assisted over 1,200 micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) and generated more than RM34 million in revenue. 'These programmes are Showcase Usahawan Sarawak, Sabah International Food Expo, Satu Daerah Satu Industri, and FHA Food & Beverage 2025,' he said. The Sarawak Trade and Tourism Office in Singapore (Statos) had finalised six trade distribution agreements between Singapore and Sarawak, securing RM63.5 million in sales across services, food, and beverages, as well as RM7.5 million in agricultural investments. 'In October 2025, my ministry, in collaboration with Statos, will host the Sarawak Mega Fair 2025 in Singapore to support SMEs in expanding globally, leveraging Singapore strategic position as a regional trade hub. 'This event aims to promote international trade, investment and tourism between Sarawak, Singapore and beyond,' he said. In addition, he said the Sarawak Trade and Tourism Office in Brunei (Statob), which began operations in October 2024, has been actively collaborating with Brunei counterparts and beyond. Other programmes organised by the Ministry of International Trade, Industry and Investment include investment, trade grants and export compliance seminars in Kuching, Miri, Sibu, and Bintulu in collaboration with the Malaysian Investment Development Authority (Mida), Malaysia External Trade Development Corporation (Matrade), SME Corp Malaysia, and Shopee. 'These seminars tailored to each city's business sector, enhanced business networks, awareness of funding opportunities and strategic growth, which benefited over 260 participants in compliance and international expansion,' Awang Tengah added. Awang Tengah Ali Hasan lead online sellers
