KUALA LUMPUR: Bank Muamalat Malaysia Bhd (Bank Muamalat) has distributed iTEKAD grants amounting to RM1.67 million to 334 micro entrepreneurs in Pahang in an effort to assist them to expand their business.
Bank Muamalat's iTEKAD program has helped 2,274 entrepreneurs to date, with total distribution amounting to RM20.66 million.
The initiative is specially designed for low-income micro-entrepreneurs through capital assistance startups, structured training and micro-financing.
In addition, entrepreneurs are also given marketing training through selected e-commerce online platforms.
Through the iTEKAD programme, the bank also offers access to digital facilities such as transaction terminals without e-POS cash and the provision of QR codes to encourage digital payments inclusive.
Bank Muamalat president and chief executive officer Khairul Kamarudin said he banks always supports efforts by Bank Negara Malaysia and it is committed to helping micro-entrepreneurs, in line with the government's agenda in building an entrepreneurial ecosystem comprehensive and conducive.
"Moving forward, Bank Muamalat is exploring opportunities to collaborate with third parties such as state governments, cooperatives, institutions of higher education and others to further expand access to the iTEKAD programme and the bank's comprehensive business solutions to those in need," he said.
The hand over ceremony of iTEKAD Bank Muamalat grant certificates to micro-entrepreneurswas held at the Pahang Financial Literacy Carnival, attended by BNM director of financial inclusion department Nor Rafidz Nazri.