KUCHING: The Sarawak government, through the Ministry of International Trade and Industry (MINTRED), has extended substantial support to more than 45,500 entrepreneurs, disbursing a total of RM199.49 million in financial aid.
This assistance has been channelled through a range of programmes aimed at empowering local businesses, with the overarching goal of fostering growth, innovation and economic independence across the state.
The announcement was made in a statement issued during the inaugural meeting of the Sarawak Entrepreneur Development Coordination Committee (SEDCC) for 2025, held today.
The committee comprises over 80 members from 45 federal and 38 state government agencies, tasked with reviewing, formulating and implementing key policies and initiatives to spur entrepreneurial growth in Sarawak.
During the meeting, RM5 million in funding under the Sarawak Microcredit Scheme 2025 was officially handed over by Dzulkornain Masron, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of International Trade, Industry and Investment Sarawak, to Abdul Halex Abdullah, Regional Director of Agrobank Sarawak.
The handover was witnessed by Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hasan.
Awang Tengah commended the collaborative efforts between federal and state agencies.
He noted that such partnerships have been instrumental in the successful execution of entrepreneurship programmes, thereby enabling broader and more impactful support for local entrepreneurs.
To better support entrepreneurs, the government introduced ENBASE, a one stop platform that provides key business data to help plan and deliver more targeted programmes across Sarawak.
Awang Tengah highlighted that ENBASE will help ensure the targeted delivery of specialised programmes such as financial assistance, capacity building initiatives, and product promotion, particularly to underserved groups in rural areas.
He also encouraged Sarawakian entrepreneurs to adopt best practices and embrace modern technologies, including the principles of Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG), in order to enhance their productivity and competitiveness in today’s rapidly evolving market.
