KOTA KINABALU: Sabah has established a committee to address issues and facilitate financial assistance for entrepreneurs, said state Industrial Development and Entrepreneurship Minister Datuk Phoong Jin Zhe.
He said the 31-member state Entrepreneur Development Committee, which will meet twice annually, is set up in partnership with the federal Entrepreneur Development and Cooperatives (Kuskop) Ministry.
Phoong also mentioned another initiative dubbed the "Sabah Empowerment Programme" (Push), which is carried out in partnership with Perbadanan Nasional Berhad (Pernas), aimed at preparing entrepreneurs to transform their businesses into registered franchisors.
"The six-month programme, running from May to November 2024, targets 40 new franchise entrepreneurs. The ministry allocated RM150,000 to support the initiative," he added.
"I hope that these collaborations will bring significant benefits to Sabah entrepreneurs and boost their global competitiveness," Phoong said in response to Kapayan Assemblyman Jannie Lasimbang's query about collaborations with Kuskop during the question-and-answer session yesterday at the State Legislative Assembly sitting.
Phoong also said the success of the Sabah Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSME) Entrepreneur Carnival, organised with SME Corp, has helped entrepreneurs explore market opportunities, increase sales, and connect with local supermarkets.