KUCHING: Centre of Technical Excellence Sarawak (Centexs) Commercial has announced a collaboration between its digital platform Sara-X, Perbadanan Nasional Berhad (PNS), and beauty/health company Allunique, involving the Micro-Franchise Loan Scheme.
Centexs Commercial general manager Mohamad Shahren Mohamad Yusri said this initiative, which would be available starting Thursday (March 25), would assist entrepreneurs who are interested in venturing into the franchise business sector by becoming franchisees.
“Through this collaboration, entrepreneurs can apply for this loan of up to RM20,000 and become a franchisee for Allunique,” he said on Thursday.
This fund includes the franchise fee as well as equipment and inventory from Allunique. Moreover, Allunique will also provide 30 hours of product and treatment training.
“One of the compulsory criteria to become a franchisee under Allunique is the person has to be registered as a service provider under Sara-X,” he said, adding that Allunique was also a registered Sara-X provider.
Among the other criteria are:
· Aged 21 years and above, not more than 65 years
· Application should be made through a registered company – Sendirian Berhad, partnership, or enterprise and is 100 per cent locally-owned
· Registered under the Companies Commission of Malaysia (SSM), as for Sarawak, individuals must register with the Inland Revenue Board (IRB)
· Obtain offer letter from the local franchisor
· Not blacklisted by any financial institutions, no outstanding instalments, and not declared as bankrupt
Shahren said this opportunity was open to students and alumni of Centexs as well as the public.
He said Centexs had also collaborated with the Ministry of International Trade and Industry, Industrial Terminal and Entrepreneur Development (Mintred) on the ‘Jum Regista’ programme, through which it could help entrepreneurs without premises to register their business.
“Through ‘Jum Regista’ with Mintred, these entrepreneurs who do not have business registration can give their names to us and we will send it to the ministry. Mintred will register them and use the address of an incubator under Sarawak Economic Development Corporation (SEDC).”
He said there was a registration fee of RM77 to be borne by the entrepreneurs, but pointed out that this was a much smaller sum compared to having to rent a business address.
“We have discussed with PNS, and in the future, we will explore further collaborations to provide loans for other business schemes.”
The Micro-Franchise Scheme is a package strongly recommended by the government through the Ministry of Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs (KPDNHEP) to assist those who want to start a business to earn a better living, with a low investment cost and high returns business model.
With that, Allunique is among the companies selected to be franchisors under PNS to launch this scheme.
Also present were Centexs deputy director of technical and heritage Dr Nadianatra Musa, PNS Sarawak regional office head Vivishir Gider, and Allunique regional manager Judy Siaw.
