By Jacob Achoi
SERIAN, Oct 8: Local contractors are urged to make full use of the various forms of allocation provided by the state government to develop their services.
In making the call, Assistant Minister of Entrepreneurs and Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) Development Datuk Mohd Naroden Majais disclosed the allocations include those via the Rural Transformation Programme (RTP) and Minor Rural Project (MRP) initiatives as well as allocations for house repairs.
He highlighted these allocations are available through all state elected representatives.
“To help our local contractors under Class D, E and F, the state government under Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) is allocating RM5 million under RTP, RM3 million under MRP and another RM1 million for the repair of houses.
“So our local contractors must make full use of these allocations from the state government to improve their services and to sustain their business,” Naroden pointed out in a statement today.
He said this at the 12th series of Contractors Entrepreneurs Symposium at Roxy Hotel, here.
The symposium attended by 250 Class D, E and F local contractors from Serian and Samarahan divisions was officiated at by Deputy Chief Minister and Minister of International Trade and Industry, Industrial Terminal and Entrepreneur Development Datuk Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hasan.
Naroden revealed that the state government had devised several initiatives to help local contractors and SMEs during Covid-19 pandemic since March this year.
“The state government is very much aware of the difficulties and challenges faced by our local contractors and SMEs during the Covid-19 pandemic, and thus has come up with various initiatives providing both indirect and direct financial assistance to keep their business going,” Naroden pointed out, adding such assistance was to complement federal government efforts.
He later handed over cheques under the Sarawak Micro Credit Scheme (SKMS) and Small and Medium Industry Loan Scheme (SPIKS) totaling RM1.5 million to various recipients.
The cheques were from Sarawak Economic Development Corporation (SEDC) and Agro Bank.
Offer letters were also given to successful contractors to implement various RTP projects in Serian and Samarahan. — DayakDaily
