Kuala Lumpur: The Domestic Trade, Cooperatives and Consumerism Ministry is willing to provide, through its many agencies, not just finances but also business management tips and advice to budding entrepreneurs.
Speaking to 1,200 attendees of Symposium Ringgit 2015 or Super 2015, its minister Datuk Hamzah Zainuddin said that many youths often ask for business opportunities when in fact they should be offering innovative ideas that can create value first.
“Don’t ask for business opportunities. Instead, come up with a brilliant idea that can generate money. Bill Gates invented Microsoft first before he went to look for investors. A successful business often starts with a great idea,” said Hamzah.
With the rising cost that we are seeing today, Hamzah said that it is also important for youth to realize and acknowledge the importance of managing your finances well.
He added that Asean, with a population of more than 600,000 million is a good market to tap into.
“One of the many ways in which you can be successful in business is through franchising. Look at the internet for new fresh ideas and see if there are opportunities for franchising as it is the easiest form of doing business with minimum risks,” said Hamzah.
Jointly organized by the Bureau of Young Professionals (BPM), Credit Counselling and Debt Management Agency (KPK) and the National Capital Bhd, Super 2015 with the theme “Simple Lifestyle, Free From Debt, Superb in Managing Finances” is an inspirational programme that provides a platform for participants to engage in a dialogue with speakers and prominent financial figures throughout the country to learn the basics of financial management.
Speakers at the event included CIMB Group Chief Executive Officer Datuk Tengku Zafrul Aziz Abdul Aziz, Credit Counseling and Debt Management Agency Chief Executive Officer Azaddin Ngah Tasir, Zero Hutang: Bukan Mudah Tapi Tak Mustahil author Zulkifli Shafie and WTF? 23 Properties by 30 author Faizul Ridzuan.
According to BPM chairman Shahril Hamdan, there are currently 25,000 youth in the country below the age of 35 who have been declared bankrupt.
“This figure is worrying as most of these debts are not investment-debts, but debts incurred purchasing a property for instance.
This is one of the reasons why we are having this event, to acknowledge the problems youth today are facing and to help in providing viable solutions,” said Shahril.