Women entrepreneurs, startups welcome the RM50 million allocation of Sarawak

MIRI, 13 Oct: The RM50 million allocation through soft loan facility for women entrepreneurs and start-up entrepreneurs is seen as an opportunity to strengthen business operations, while opening up space for local business growth.

The average entrepreneur encountered by TVS welcomed the initiative of the Sarawak Government, which was seen to be able to help them raise capital to increase inventory, buy equipment and hire employees to expand their business.

Aliea Fashion founder Hadijah Sheikh Kassim said the RM25 million allocation for women-led enterprises opens up more opportunities for female entrepreneurs to develop businesses, including bringing local products to overseas markets.

"This RM25 million allocation is very helpful for women entrepreneurs in Sarawak, including small and medium-sized traders as well as those who want to grow their business.

"For entrepreneurs who have their own products, this aid can also open up opportunities to market their products abroad", he said when meeting TVS here today.

Meanwhile, sewing tool seller Na Ai Hui said the financing facility could potentially help him increase inventory of goods to meet customer demand.

"More choice of sewing materials and equipment not only makes it easier for customers to meet their needs, but also helps women who make handcraft expand their income-generating activities.

"If I get this help, I will add more items to the store so that customers, especially women who make handcrafted products, have more options for making products that can be sold", she said.

LAPIS by Be'Bulak entrepreneur, Samuel Ghani Ayai, described the RM25 million allocation for startups as an initiative that could help new businesses grow to a higher level.

"For me as an entrepreneur, this allocation is great because it not only gives us the opportunity to raise capital but also helps us take our business to the next level.

"If the aid can be used to buy equipment, we can save costs and use some of the capital to hire employees to grow the business", he said.

The Government of Sarawak has allocated RM25 million for easy lending facilities to women-led enterprises through AFFIN Bank in cooperation with the Government of Sarawak, which will be administered by the Ministry of Women, Children and Community Welfare.

In addition, RM25 million was allocated for easy loan scheme for start-up entrepreneurs in Sarawak to help them strengthen operations, increase productivity and grow businesses.

The move is also seen as potentially strengthening the competitiveness of local enterprises, stimulating community economic growth and creating more employment opportunities through business development in Sarawak. - TVS