State govt plans to establish Youth Business Centres in Kuching, Sibu, Bintulu, Miri

Abdul Karim delivering his winding-up speech at the DUN sitting today (Nov 30, 2022). Screenshot taken from a Sarawak Public Communications Unit (Ukas) Facebook livestream.

By Ling Hui

KUCHING, Nov 30: The Ministry of Youth, Sports and Entrepreneur Development (MYSED) is planning to establish Youth Business Centres in Kuching, Sibu, Bintulu and Miri.

Its Minister Dato Sri Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah said these centres would serve as business and entrepreneurship information platforms in specific sectors orientating towards the digital economy.

In terms of financial assistance, he said the ministry is considering giving out grants such as Start Up Grant, Business Development Grant, as well as loans, namely Youth Business Loan and Youth Advanced Loan.

Entrepreneurship programmes in the pipeline include Program Bina Jaringan Rangkaian Industri, Youth Business Challenge, Youth Entrepreneur Carnival, Business Management and Upskilling Course, Packaging and Branding Course and E-Commerce and Digital Marketing Course.

Meanwhile, the ministry, as a whole, has planned 175 programmes for 2023, which consist of 70 youth development programmes, 70 sport development programmes and 35 entrepreneurship programmes with emphasis on economic, social and environmental sustainability.

Abdul Karim said this is the ministry’s continuous “#Tiada Minggu Tanpa Program” (No Week Without Programme) effort to effectively implement beneficial development programmes throughout Sarawak.

“Focusing on more national and international level programmes next year, we hope that these programmes will achieve our objectives in enhancing youth engagement and participation as well as inculcating good leadership qualities, spirit of volunteerism, teamwork, self-confidence and resilience in facing future challenges,” he said.

Abdul Karim was delivering his ministry’s winding-up speech in the Sarawak Legislative Assembly (DUN) sitting at the DUN Complex here today. — DayakDaily