KUALA LUMPUR: Perbadanan Usahawan Nasional Bhd (PUNB), in a strategic partnership with the German-Malaysian Institute (GMI), will provide more courses and training next year in the latest electric vehicle (EV) manufacturing technology.
Chief executive officer Izwan Zainuddin said the demand for expertise in the service of EV and hybrid vehicles seems to be increasing in Malaysia, especially for vehicles out of warranty period.
"For this year, a total of three training sessions have been organised involving 60 participants from PUNB's employees and entrepreneur partners," he told reporters after the Auto Forum 2022 opening ceremony today.
He said the initiative was part of PUNB's support for the government in the automotive industry which focuses on EV adoption, in line with the National Automotive Policy 2020, to achieve a carbon-free country by 2050.
"In line with this, as an entrepreneur development centre, PUNB is tasked to provide exposure through courses and training to ensure that the businesses of entrepreneur partners move with the current technological development," he explained.
PUNB also collaborated with Petronas Lubricants Marketing (Malaysia) Sdn Bhd through the Petronas AutoExpert programme as a platform to conduct a concept vehicle workshop under the brand of the major Malaysian oil company.
"Through this collaboration, qualified entrepreneur partners can get funding support from PUNB along with the guidance offered by Petronas to commence business," he added.
Izwan said PUNB is targeting 20 of its automotive entrepreneurs to participate in the Petronas AutoExpert programme within two years until the end of 2024.
Izwan said a total of RM409.3 million in business financing had been approved for 1,238 companies in the automotive industry until Sept 30, 2022 since the establishment of PUNB.
Overall, he said PUNB had approved business financing of RM3.9 billion to 13,615 entrepreneurs from 9,509 companies until Sept 30, 2022 since its establishment.
Its target of business financing approvals this year was RM189 million to 314 companies.