KUCHING: A greater investment in capacity-building and strategic support for entrepreneurs across Sarawak is needed to bolster the local small and medium-sized enterprises (SME).
Sarawak Business Federation (SBF) secretary-general Datuk Jonathan Chai expressed his concern that the RM3.1 million allocated for capacity-building programmes might fall short in covering a wide spectrum of industries.
“In terms of capacity building, we would probably be looking at how we could help the SMEs in enhancing their productivity by adopting the latest technologies and AI and also by gaining certification of their skills and expertise in order to comply with the statutory requirements or meet market expectations.
“In addition, we could perhaps also organise programmes to keep the SMEs informed of the importance of their compliance with environmental, social, and governance (ESG) in order to enable them to obtain banking facilities with better and favourable terms and conditions of repayment and also to gain wider access to the global market for their products and services,” he said when contacted by Sarawak Tribune.
On the new Anjung Usahawan Development Programme aimed at fostering entrepreneurship in rural areas with an RM8.4 million allocation, he expressed optimism.
He stated that as an apex business organisation representing various chambers, trade guilds and business organisations in Sarawak, SBF hopes to work with Ministry of International Trade, Industry and Investment and any government agency and play a proactive role in boosting entrepreneurs in rural areas with the introduction of Anjung Usahawan Development Programme.
“In fact, SBF was previously entrusted by the government to assess and filter the applications of our members for the Business Recovery Fund of RM20 million in collaboration with the ministry and in the process, we have learnt and are better informed of the needs of the business community on the ground.
“If we were to develop and uplift entrepreneurial capacity in the rural areas, I think we could start with the cottage industry and provide training for weaving of baskets and bags as this is an important traditional crafts which can be transformed into a form of business, possibly also organise short-term courses and workshops for them on marketing and value-adding of some of the marketable local agricultural produces such as dabai, engkabang, and many more,” he said.
Chai stressed that any form of financial assistance will be crucial to the businesses especially the SMEs and the micro enterprises in this very challenging economic climate.
Therefore, he added, the RM15.5 million allocated for soft loans and grants through programmes such as Skim Kredit Mikro Sarawak, Skim Pinjaman Industri Kecil dan Sederhana, and the GoDigital Programme is expected to ease the financial pressure on SMEs and micro-businesses.
“This support comes at a crucial time as businesses face rising costs due to recent inflation and the upcoming increase in the minimum wage to RM1,700.
“Of course, we hope that the funding would be put to good use by the deserving recipients so that the government’s efforts would not be undermined and wasted,” he said.
