KUALA LUMPUR: The Entrepreneur Development Ministry will provide entrepreneurial training to some 50,000 local graduates who have the qualifications but are not involved in the field.
Minister Mohd Redzuan Md Yusof said this was one of the efforts undertaken by the government to nurture entrepreneurship among the young generation.
“This initiative, the Industry Sponsorship Programme, is one of several programmes that have been planned for next year and it will focus on the young generation because the government is aware that it has the challenge to change their (young generation) mindset towards becoming young and successful entrepreneurs,” he said during a question-and-answer session at the Dewan Rakyat today.
He was replying to a question from Nor Azrina Surip (PKR-Merbok) who asked on the government’s efforts to increase the income of small enterprises and young entrepreneurs to enable them to compete amid the current economic situation.
Mohd Redzuan said there were improvements in the achievements in terms of awareness on entrepreneurship, however, the improvements were not encouraging.
“The Entrepreneur Development Ministry is always serious in empowering the small enterprises and young entrepreneurs in weathering the prevailing economic challenges.
“There are several other initiatives that have been and will be implemented towards this empowerment,” he added.
Among the programmes that have been implemented to assist small businesses and young entrepreneurs are Prosper Young Entrepreneur Scheme by Perbadanan Usahawan Nasional Bhd (PUNB), which offers funding to young entrepreneurs to venture into business in the retail and distribution sector and distribution in strategic business sectors.
Another programme is the Go-Ex Programme sponsored by the Malaysia External Trade Development Corporation (MATRADE), aimed at preparing small and medium enterprises to export their products to existing markets as well as new markets.— BERNAMA