By DayakDaily Team
KUCHING, Oct 28: Sarawak Bumiputera entrepreneurs could gain greater access to financing and high-value industry supply chains following the increase in Perbadanan Usahawan Nasional Bhd (PUNB) funding to RM500 million under Budget 2027.
According to the Sarawak Public Communications Unit (UKAS) report, caretaker Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hasan said the increased funding is expected to strengthen local companies’ capacity to capitalise on growing investments and industrial development in Sarawak.
He said PUNB had channelled RM121.2 million to about 354 companies in Sarawak as of Sept this year, when speaking at the Sarawak State Entrepreneurs Networking Programme 2026 here today.
“This increase is expected to broaden access to financing for Bumiputera entrepreneurs, including those in Sarawak, to enhance their capacity and expand their businesses,” he said.
Awang Tengah, who is also caretaker Minister for International Trade, Industry and Investment, said strengthening micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) was crucial to achieving the State’s target of a gross domestic product (GDP) of RM282 billion by 2030 under the Post COVID-19 Development Strategy 2030 (PCDS 2030).
Sarawak has about 71,000 MSMEs, nearly 80 per cent of which are micro-enterprises, contributing an estimated 18 per cent to the State’s GDP.
He said local businesses must improve their production capacity, technical skills, digitalisation and management efficiency to meet industry requirements and compete in wider markets.
Awang Tengah also called on PUNB to expand its collaboration with Sarawak Energy Bhd (SEB), Petroleum Sarawak Bhd (PETROS) and related companies to create more opportunities for local vendors, particularly in the energy, high-tech manufacturing and utility infrastructure sectors.
He said support could include financing, equipment and capacity-building initiatives to help local companies meet industry players’ technical and operational requirements.
Since 2019, SEB’s vendor development programme has supported 212 vendors as of September 2026, with 197 completing the programme, including 154 Bumiputera vendors.
Separately, PUNB plans to launch the “PROSPER GROW PLUS” financing scheme in January 2027 to help local enterprises strengthen their technical capabilities, adopt automation and meet working capital needs.
The scheme offers financing of between RM1 million and RM10 million at a profit rate of 3.5 per cent per annum for up to seven years, with applications scheduled to open in January 2027.
Also present were PUNB chairman Tan Sri Rastam Mohd Isa, Ministry of International Trade, Industry, Investment and Entrepreneur Development Sarawak (MINTRED) adviser Dato Sri Mohd Naroden Majais and MINTRED permanent secretary Datu Lester Matthew. —DayakDaily
