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By Ling Hui
KUCHING, July 9: Small and medium enterprises (SMEs) are welcomed to establish public-private partnerships with the Sarawak government through the Sarawak Special Taskforce To Facilitate Business (Samudah) programme under Economic Planning Unit (EPU).
Sarawak Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg said Samudah is a platform where interested entrepreneurs can work with the Sarawak government through the Ministry of International Trade and Investment to expand their businesses.
He said the ministry could facilitate the business expansions by bringing local entrepreneurs to international platforms to meet with potential investors.
“When you join international exhibitions it’s very costly to have a booth. So, the government through the ministry will assist. We share the booth in order to expand your market.
“So, that is already an engagement between the public, that is, the government and the entrepreneurs themselves, who represent the private sector,” he explained.
For young startups, Abang Johari said, having a business plan and business objectives is key to entrepreneurship success.
He advised Sarawakians not to have follow-the-herd mentality, but to come up with innovative ideas based on a business plan with various phases of growth.
“For you to start a business, you must have your business plan. Along the line, at certain phases of your business plan, if you need some assistance—that’s where you work with the government.
“The government will assist, but if you give up halfway, it will be a loss for both sides. So, don’t (do that),” said Abang Johari during ‘Sunday Morning with Premier 2.0: Dialogue Session with Young Entrepreneurs on New Economy’ held at Imperial Hotel here today.
He was responding to questions from Black Dot Management Sdn Bhd founder and director Noor Nikman Salleh on how young entrepreneurs could work together with the State government to grow Sarawak into a developed region by 2030.
The dialogue session was co-organised by DayakDaily and Pertubuhan Wartawan Bebas Kuching (Pewarta), supported by the Sarawak government.
Minister of Sports, Youth and Entrepreneur Development Dato Sri Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah, Tebedu assemblyman Dr Simon Sinang Bada, Deputy Secretary (Economic and Development Planning) Datu Dr Muhammad Abdullah Zaidel and Sarawak Economic Planning Unit (EPU) director Lester Matthew were among those present.
The dialogue was attended by some 130 young entrepreneurs as well as top government officials and heads of departments. — DayakDaily
