KOTA KINABALU: The Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) government will continue to give emphasis on human capital development, said Sabah Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor.
"Besides focusing on key sectors of the Sabah Maju Jaya (SMJ) to spur economic growth and recovery, our emphasis is also to push for the second thrust of the SMJ Roadmap, which is Human Capital Development and People's Prosperity.
"I have addressed this in our state's 2022 Budget where sizeable funds have been allocated to relevant agencies and ministries for human capital development," he said at the Shell LiveWIRE Sabah 2021 Award Ceremony here today.
Sabah Youth and Sports Minister Datuk Ellron Alfred Angin delivered the Chief Minister's speech.
Among these, he said, RM24 million was allocated to the Human Resource Development Department to conduct courses and skills training in technology, technical and trade to strengthen human capital development and to produce a competent and resilient generation.
These included the Sabah Talent and Entrepreneurship Development Programme to help youths who have lost their source of income due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
The most recent platforms established were the SME Product Centres in Kota Kinabalu, Beaufort and Ranau, and the collaboration with supermarket chains.
"This will boost the local retail sector for those intending to scale up their businesses.
"A total of RM5.76 million was also allocated to establish four more SMI Centres in 2022 at the district level to market SMI products. Similarly, the SMI Assistance Programme (BAIKS) which has helped a total of 3,269 entrepreneurs in the state will be intensified," he said.
In this respect, Hajiji commended Shell for introducing the entrepreneurship development programme here in Sabah seven years ago that has benefited young Sabahans.
He said the state government welcomed the support of all parties including the private sector to complement its development efforts as outlined in the state's five-year development plan, Hala Tuju SMJ.
"I am happy to know that the Shell LiveWIRE programme has supported local entrepreneurs to access knowledge, skills, networks and resources, and turning their business ideas into successful enterprises," he said.
Hajiji encouraged budding entrepreneurs to seek out and take advantage of government initiatives as well as to take advantage of opportunities such as this Shell LiveWIRE programme.
He also urged entrepreneurs in the state to think out of the box and adopt new approaches in order to succeed in a competitive and fast-changing world.
"You need to stand out, be dynamic and proactive and aspire to look beyond local markets and boundaries. Explore opportunities to cut through these barriers and go global; leverage opportunities for example in e-Commerce or be prepared to collaborate with other entrepreneurs locally and outside of Sabah," he said.
Hajiji congratulated the five young recipients of the Shell LiveWire 2021 Awards who successfully pitched their business ideas to win RM10,000 cash each to grow their businesses.