6,986 ENTREPRENEURS RECEIVED RM100.30 MLN STARTUP GRANTS FROM 2014-2022

KUALA LUMPUR, March 30 (Bernama) -- Some 6,986 youth entrepreneurs received business startup grants totalling RM100.30 million through the Tunas Usahawan Belia Bumiputera (TUBE) programme from 2014 to 2022, the Dewan Negara was told today.

Deputy Entrepreneur Development and Cooperatives Minister Senator Saraswathy Kandasami said a total of 7,183 Bumiputera youth entrepreneurs had also benefitted from the programme organised by SME Corp Malaysia up to Dec 31, 2022.

“It had created 12,686 new job opportunities,” she said during a question-and-answer session in the Dewan Negara on Thursday.

Saraswathy said this in response to a question from Senator Datuk Dr Nuing Jeluing on programmes to train youths in entrepreneurship and the success of these programmes.

According to her, the ministry and its agencies have implemented various entrepreneurship programmes for youths such as Professional Training and Education for Growing Entrepreneurs (Protege).

It includes the New Gen Entrepreneurs Online Bootcamp (N-GENE) programme which has succeeded in training some 2,300 youth entrepreneurs.

“Based on the programme’s implementation performance, 73.52 per cent of participants were able to generate an income of over RM2,000 after completing the training, and 71.17 per cent use digital business platforms,” she said.

Another programme, Fundamental Entrepreneurship Training (ETR 101) has trained some 5,767 youths to obtain exposure, thought adaptation and entrepreneurship skills at work places through physical and online training.

Meanwhile, the Apprentice Entrepreneur (SPACE) programme, has trained 300 graduates at the institute of higher learning level and received training in product development. 

“Out of the total, 28 participants are qualified to be given grants after the completion of the programme according to the criteria that have been set,” she added.

-- BERNAMA