Women Bumiputera Entrepreneurs Must Focus On Exploring Global Market - Ahmad Zahid

KOTA KINABALU, Oct 18 (Bernama) -- Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi has called on Bumiputera entrepreneurs, especially women, to be bold in exploring the international market through Malaysian brand products to strengthen the country's economic position at the global level.

He said that Majlis Amanah Rakyat (MARA) will introduce a Gate to Global programme that provides opportunities for entrepreneurs to market their products abroad using a single brand that is recognised under the agency.

"I have requested the MARA chairman to promote these products under a single brand. Let these products be produced on an OEM (original equipment manufacturer) basis with one brand so that the global market sees the products as being from Malaysia.

"Who is the manufacturer? These are from Sabah. That's when Sabah becomes strong," he said at the MARA Women's Empowerment Programme and the Malaysia MADANI Nationhood Seminar here today.

Also present were Minister of Higher Education Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abd Kadir; Deputy Minister of Women, Family and Community Development Datuk Seri Noraini Ahmad; and MARA chairman Datuk Dr Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki.

Ahmad Zahid, also the Rural and Regional Development Minister, said the government has allocated RM52 billion next year to empower the entrepreneurship sector, with the participation of 17 ministries, including MARA that will receive RM4 billion under Budget 2026.

He said the focus is on women entrepreneurs because they have proven to be highly disciplined in managing businesses, including in terms of repaying loans.

"In terms of loan repayment, women can be trusted more than men… that's because Amanah Ikhtiar Malaysia records that the rate of non-performing loans by women is very low, just 0.25 per cent,” he said.

Ahmad Zahid also reiterated that the Bumiputera sector can no longer rely solely on grants to succeed, but through loans and continued guidance so that their businesses can grow more sustainably.

According to him, the government is also targeting at least five per cent of micro entrepreneurs to be upgraded to the small category every year, while five per cent of small entrepreneurs need to get to the medium level and subsequently be listed on Bursa Malaysia.

He also encouraged Bumiputera entrepreneurs to focus on the high-value sector, including global halal products, that is expected to reach US$5 trillion by 2030.

-- BERNAMA