BINTULU: More than 178,000 entrepreneurs in Sarawak have received assistance from various state and federal government agencies over the past few years, amounting to a total exceeding RM3.3 billion.

This achievement underscores the Sarawak Government’s continued commitment to empowering the entrepreneurial sector as a key driver of economic development.

According to Sarawak Deputy Premier, Datuk Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hasan, the Ministry of International Trade, Industry and Investment Sarawak (MINTRED) remains steadfast in its support of entrepreneurship, particularly in boosting Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs).

He revealed that during the same period, over 41,800 MSMEs benefitted from targeted assistance worth RM204 million through various programmes under MINTRED.

“This support includes grants, SME loans, and initiatives such as the Sarawak Micro Credit Scheme.

“Last year, we also allocated millions of ringgit from the Sarawak Government to run programmes like ‘Go Digital’, where we provided RM10,000 grants, as well as initiatives such as ‘Jom Register’,” he said.

Datuk Amar Awang Tengah, who is also Minister of MINTRED, said this during the launch of the Sarawak Entrepreneurs Showcase (SUS) 2025, held at a shopping mall here on Friday.

He went on to stress the importance of Sarawakian entrepreneurs stepping out of their comfort zones and exploring markets in other states and abroad.

To this end, he encouraged them to tap into the opportunities presented by Malaysia’s Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) to export their products internationally.

“It’s vital that we continue to enhance our capabilities through upskilling. We must also understand and meet the requirements necessary to compete in international markets.

“We already have strong potential, but that potential must continuously be improved. This is an ongoing process, and we must fully utilise all the platforms available to us,” he added.

Touching on the programme itself, he noted that a variety of exciting activities were lined up — including cooking demonstrations, business pitching sessions and business matching events — with the participation of six key companies including AEON, Mydin and eMart, collectively aiming for potential sales of RM3 million.

It was also announced that following the Bintulu leg, the next SUS 2025 programme is scheduled to be held at Queensbay Mall, Penang, from 28 August to 1 September 2025.

Also present at the event were Speaker of the Sarawak Legislative Assembly, Tan Sri Datuk Amar Mohamad Asfia Awang Nasar, Deputy Minister for International Trade, Industry and Investment Sarawak, Datuk Dr. Malcolm Mussen Lamoh, Deputy Minister for Youth, Sports and Entrepreneur Development, Datuk Dr Ripin Lamat, Advisor to MINTRED, Dato Sri Naroden Majais, Jepak assemblyman, Iskandar Turkee, Tanjong Datu assemblyman, Johnny Pang Leong Ming, heads of departments and other invited dignitaries. -UKASnews