Naroden, flanked by Mussen (right) and Noor Azmi, cuts the ribbon to mark the completion of renovation works on Zuhra Hotel, which is among
the recipients of SME Corp Malaysia’s ‘Bumiputera Enterprise Enhancement Programme’.
Also seen are (from right) SME Corp Malaysia corporation member Awang Habiburllah Awang Ismail and political secretary to the chief minister Abu Seman Jahwie.

SIBU: Sarawak now has 62,000 operators of small and medium enterprises (SMEs), versus 43,000 registered over 10 years ago.

Assistant Minister of Entrepreneur and SME Development Datuk Mohd Naroden Majais regards such growth as ‘a positive development in entrepreneurship in the country’.

“Based on our statistics over the past 10 years, we have seen an increase in participation by Sarawakians into entrepreneurship, (with the figure) rising from 43,000 to 62,000 entrepreneurs,” he said in launching the ‘SME with Media Roadshow’ at Zuhra Hotel here on Saturday, in connection with ‘Sarawak Entrepreneurship Week and SME 2019 Programme’.

Naroden believed that such increase was driven by the promotional campaigns committed by the government, which had always supported entrepreneurship.

“The government is always paying attention to SMEs and helping them through the provision of various schemes, including mentorship and capital. SME entrepreneurs are also given exposure to business opportunities available locally and abroad. Such efforts are meant to further develop SME entrepreneurs, who are among the key contributors to the country’s economic development,” he said.

On a related subject, Naroden said the Sarawak Entrepreneurship Development Coordination Committee (SEDCC) had been set up, with the aim of creating ‘collaborative entrepreneurship agencies’ meant to optimise the utilisation of existing resources by SME entrepreneurs in Sarawak. The SEDCC is chaired by Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hasan, who is also Minister of Industrial and Entrepreneur Development.

Naroden also expressed his hope that the government could channel more provisions meant to open opportunities to and further develop entrepreneurs in Sarawak.

Assistant Minister of Industries and Investment Malcolm Mussen Lamoh, SME Corp Malaysia chief executive Noor Azmi Mat Said, and Torua Sdn Bhd (Hotel Zuhra) manager Syed Hamzah Wan Hamid were also present at the event.