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By Lian Cheng
KUCHING, July 9: The Sarawak government prefers to join venture with the private sector rather than giving them grants which Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg describes as “welfare”.
He said young entrepreneurs must approach entrepreneurship with the correct attitude as there is “no such thing as free capital”.
“Grant is welfare (sic). An economy cannot be a welfare economy,” said Abang Johari, explaining that the approach taken by the Sarawak government in encouraging entrepreneurship among technopreneurs is by providing seed capital where in exchange, it will acquire equity in the company.
When the business is successful, the government will allow the participating entrepreneur to buy back the equity, after which he or she may wholly owned the company or hold the majority share.
Abang Johari said this during “Sunday Morning with Premier 2.0: Dialogue Session with Young Entrepreneurs on New Economy” organised by DayakDaily and Pertubuhan Wartawan Bebas Kuching (Pewarta) with the support of the Sarawak government, at Imperial Hotel here today.
He was replying to a question raised by a participant Shyarhirah Bojeng who asked about the possibility of the Sarawak government giving grants to help small scale farmers.
On other forms of aid the Sarawak government provides, Abang Johari said the government is now trying to upgrade digital infrastructure required by new farmers who are also managers.
Apart from that, the Sarawak government through Centre for Technology Excellence Sarawak (Centex) is experimenting with its own smart farm so that it may transfer the learnt technology and know-how to Sarawakians who are interested to be agro-technopreneurs.
Currently, Sarawak Digital Economy Corporation Berhad (SDEC) is experimenting with the planting of jade tomatoes on three acres of land using Netafim technology and the endeavour has proven successful.
Its CEO Sudarnoto Osman who was present at the event took the opportunity to extend an invitation to any agro-technopreneurs who are interested to learn more to visit the farm. — DayakDaily
