PUTRAJAYA: Supporting local businesses through the purchase of handicraft goods sold by Bumiputera entrepreneurs as gifts are among the initiatives and resolutions drawn from the 2024 Bumiputera Economic Congress.
This policy has now come into effect, with all government departments and agencies, as well as government-linked companies, being instructed to buy handicrafts produced by Bumiputera businesses as gifts.
Speaking at the closing ceremony of the 2024 Bumiputera Economic Congress, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said the move would support the artistic efforts of the Bumiputera entrepreneurs.
This initiative, he said, aimed to showcase and enhance market access for local entrepreneurs to sell their handicrafts, which include wood carvings, batik and food.
"Social enterprises have also significantly contributed to upgrading the production of handicrafts by ensuring the quality of their products and penetrating premium and international markets."
Meanwhile, Anwar said prizes and souvenirs for events — including for the Asean Summit next year — hosted by Malaysia must be based on local crafts and industries.
The Asian summit is expected to have tens of thousands of foreign leaders attending over 1,000 meetings.
"As we approach the Asean summit, everyone should contribute to and further stimulate the production of local handicraft products to exhibit the uniqueness and authenticity of crafts from each state.
"We have determined that no state should be left behind so that we can together make this programme a success," Anwar said.
The government also announced that it will enhance tax incentives and provide a matching grant fund of RM100 million to support the development of local vendors.
Anwar said that this would encourage more private companies to implement vendor development programmes such as training and skill enhancement in new fields such as digitalisation, energy transition and technology.
"I mention this because these small companies often feel neglected and sidelined from mainstream attention.
"The time has come for the private sector, including non-Bumiputera companies and multinational corporations, to support the implementation of vendor development programmes because this will benefit the country," he said.
This initiative, Anwar added, was expected to aid 10,000 local micro, small and medium enterprises — particularly Bumiputera entrepreneurs — and is also open to guidance.
Anwar said the government will allocate a microcredit financing fund of up to RM1 billion for Bumiputera entrepreneurs.
"The government is ready to increase access to microcredit financing facilities for those in need to provide support to various segments of Bumiputera entrepreneurs, including women, youth, military veterans, street vendors, gig workers and food truck operators.
"This support will be facilitated through development financial institutions such as Bank Simpanan Nasional, Agrobank, and the National Entrepreneurial Group Economic Fund."