KUALA LUMPUR: The government will set aside RM44 billion in loans and financing guarantees for the benefit of micro, small and medium-scale enterprises under the 2024 Budget.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said the amount illustrated the commitment of the unity government to empower and support micro, small and medium-scale enterpreneurs in the country.
Anwar, who is also Finance Minister, said the federal government through its agencies such as Bank Negara Malaysia, Bank Simpanan Nasional (BSN) and Tekun would also prepare micro financing facilities totalling RM2.4 billion for micro and small-scale entrepreneurs.
"(Of the total) BSN will prepare RM1.4 billion in micro financing loan facilities for hawkers and small traders to use as their business capital.
"As for Tekun, the agency will prepare RM300 million in micro financing facilities for small-scale enterpreneurs such as batik and handicraft operators including those from the Orang Asli community as well as Bumiputera in Sabah and Sarawak," he said.