KUSKOP CHANNELS RM272.6 MLN IN FINANCING TO JOHOR ENTREPRENEURS IN FIRST 5 MONTHS

JOHOR BAHRU, June 23 (Bernama) -- The Ministry of Entrepreneur and Cooperatives Development (KUSKOP), through its various agencies, has channeled financing worth RM272.6 million to 13,091 entrepreneurs in Johor in the January-May period this year.

Minister Datuk Ewon Benedick said RM81.5 million of the amount was channeled to 10,672 Amanah Ikhtiar Malaysia (AIM) entrepreneurs (Sahabat AIM) and RM41.8 million to 2,083 Tekun Nasional entrepreneurs.

“(Meanwhile,) Bank Rakyat has channeled financing worth RM57.3 million to 297 entrepreneurs, SME Corporation Malaysia has approved RM91.4 million in financing for 37 entrepreneurs, and Perbadanan Nasional Bhd (Pernas) has approved franchise financing to two companies totalling RM660,000,” he said in his speech at the closing ceremony of the Southern Region One District One Industry (SDSI) Showcase and Maju Johor Entrepreneurship Festival 2024 here today.

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On the Southern Region SDSI Showcase, he said the three-day event recorded immediate cash sales of RM1.13 million since it began on June 21, surpassing the initial target of RM1 million.

The showcase also generated RM9.22 million in potential sales, RM23.9 million in potential financing, and RM17 million in potential business matches, Ewon said.

He said the programme was the ministry’s initiative to create an inclusive entrepreneurial ecosystem for local SDSI enterprises and entrepreneurs.

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“The SDSI Showcase also offers a platform for commercialisation through exhibition and sale of products which bear an identifiable imprint of a particular district.

“In addition, entrepreneurs would also be exposed to training programmes and given access to potential financing offered by KUSKOP and its agencies,” he said.

According to Ewon, the exhibition also helped to educate the public that SDSI products have strong potential to penetrate the international market.

He said the showcase also featured the BIAYA programme, whereby public, private and alternative financing agencies are brought together under one roof to assist entrepreneurs in choosing financing products that are suitable for their respective needs.

Ewon said the government has agreed on the new direction for the SDSI programme which involves the development of a more holistic programme that takes into consideration the entrepreneurial ecosystem and is streamlined with the national development agenda.

“This represents the government’s move to help improve the economy of the rural communities in line with an integrated rural development policy,” he said. 

During the ceremony, Ewon also presented business financing cheques totalling RM25.736 million to 389 entrepreneurs.

He also witnessed the memorandum of understanding signing between Glohex Group Sdn Bhd and Perbadanan Usahawan Negeri Johor Sdn Bhd (PUJB) to develop the state’s halal industry.

-- BERNAMA