SMEs play crucial role in Sarawak’s economic growth, says Tengah

MIRI: Small and medium enterprises (SMEs) are vital to job creation, income enhancement, and the overall economic growth of Sarawak.

Minister for International Trade, Industry and Investment Datuk Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hasan, speaking at the Sarawak Bumiputera Entrepreneurs Chamber (DUBS) dinner gathering in Miri last night (Aug 6), said there are 89,000 SMEs are registered in Sarawak.

Among these, 81 per cent are micro enterprises, 15.5 per cent are small enterprises, and two per cent are medium enterprises. Notably, 83.8 per cent of these SMEs are active in the service sector, while 4.5 percent are involved in the manufacturing sector, he said in

his speech was delivered by Deputy Minister of Youth, Sports and Entrepreneur Development Datuk Dr Ripin Lamat.

Tengah disclosed that during the Covid-19 pandemic, the Sarawak government launched the Sarawakku Sayang Special Assistance (BKSS) Packages 1.0 to 9.0, involving RM6.7 billion in financial and non-financial aid.

These packages included financial grants, equipment grants, soft loans, training, and entrepreneurship courses.

Sarawak SMEs benefited from interest rate subsidies for three and a half years under various schemes such as the Special Relief Fund (SRF), Targeted Recovery and Relief Scheme Facility, and PENJANA Tourism Financing (PTF).

“Group entrepreneurs and SMEs in Sarawak are fortunate as the Sarawak government always pays attention to the business community, considering them catalysts for global economic development,” said Tengah, adding that Sarawak is the only state offering such a comprehensive interest rate subsidy scheme.

Tengah also highlighted the Business Empowerment and Recovery Fund (BizFund), led by his ministry, which provides financial grants to business associations in Sarawak.

The fund aims to enhance business capacity through various programmes.

To date, RM14.6 million has been approved for over 150 programs, including RM4.6 million for DUBS.

The event was attended by nearly 200 members, including DUBS president Datuk Abang Helmi Tan Sri Ikwan, Miri Resident Jamali Busri, DUBS vice president Datuk Abdul Kadier Sahib, and DUBS Miri chairman Mohammad Hafidz Rohani.