MIRI: Small and medium enterprises (SMEs) have always been the backbone of the Sarawak government’s economy.
Through the Ministry of International Trade, Industry and Investment (Mintred), during the Covid-19 pandemic, the Sarawak government had provided financial assistance to SMEs to help them survive, said Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hasan at the launch of Jum Regista here on Tuesday (Feb 21).
More than 200 Bumiputera SMEs attended the event.
The Jum Regista programme aimed at enabling entrepreneurs to register their business, gain access to assistance from the government or financial institutions and explore other business prospects.
Awang Tengah, who is also Mintred Minister, added that the Sarawak government had spent some RM6.9bil under the Bantuan Khas Sarawakku Sayang (BKSS) 1.0 to 9.0, which not only benefitted SMEs but also those eligible to receive financial assistance.
“The Sarawak government through my ministry will continue providing financial loans through the Sarawak Micro Credit Scheme (SMCS) to help SMEs.”
So far, a total of RM59.98mil has been distributed to 1,904 entrepreneurs statewide.
Awang Tengah’s text of speech was read out by his deputy Datuk Malcom Mussen Lamoh.
Meanwhile, under the Small and Medium Industries Loan Scheme (SPIKS), a total of RM33.01mil had been channelled to 432 recipients, RM9.83mil to 1,139 recipients via the Vocational and Technical Entrepreneur (USTEV) programme.
For Special Relief Facility (SRF), Targeted Relief and Recovery Facility (TRRF), and Penjana Tourism Financing (PTF), a total of RM76.1mil was approved on Jan 31 last year, benefiting 3,335 recipients.
In 2023, an allocation amounting to RM5mil has been approved for the Go Digital programme. Some 500 new SMEs are expected to benefit from it.
Also present were Deputy Minister for Youth, Sport and Entrepreneur Development, Dr Ripin Lamat and deputy Miri Resident Juan Ubit.
