MSMEs told to seize business opportunities, cultivate entrepreneurship ecosystem

MIRI (Dec 9): Micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) should seize business opportunities and cultivate a dynamic entrepreneurship ecosystem, said Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hasan.

“MSMEs are the backbone of Sarawak’s economic development, comprising 96 per cent of the total business community.

“The Sarawak government is committed to strengthening MSMEs through more inclusive policies and initiatives in line with the Sarawak Budget 2026.

“The state government will continue providing targeted support to enable entrepreneurs, particularly youths, women and rural communities, to benefit from new economic opportunities in the digital and technology sectors,” he said when officiating the Entrepreneurship Development and Digital Transformation Seminar here last Sunday.

He was represented by Deputy Minister of Women, Childhood and Community Wellbeing Development Datuk Rosey Yunus.

The event was organised by Jatti Miriek Miri Association in collaboration with the Ministry of International Trade, Industry and Investment (Mintred), and attracted over 270 participants, said Awang Tengah.

He said the seminar served to introduce the fundamentals of entrepreneurship to the community while guiding participants towards transforming their businesses through digital platforms.

Awang Tengah, also Minister of International Trade, Industry and Investment, highlighted some of the government’s assistance schemes and loan programmes aimed at strengthening the entrepreneurship ecosystem, such as Graduate Towards Entrepreneurship (GERAK); Technical and Vocational Entrepreneurs (USTEV); the Go Digital programme; Sarawak Micro Credit Scheme; and Small and Medium Industry Loan Scheme.

“Additionally, the Capacity Development and Promotion Programme has trained over 29,700 entrepreneurs to enhance their skills and promote products locally and globally, while the Jum Regista Bisnes Programme has helped register 5,791 informal entrepreneurs into the formal business sector.

“Overall, these initiatives have benefitted 59,900 entrepreneurs throughout Sarawak, involving a total assistance of over RM220 million,” he said.

He also called for more collaboration between associations, government agencies, and industry players to strengthen local entrepreneur development, particularly in digital economy.

Also present were Mintred Sarawak advisor Dato Sri Mohd Naroden Majais and Jatti Miriek Association vice president Datuk Mohamad Sarfi Datuk Abdillah.