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Hello Entrepreneurs!

In light of current uncertainties in the economic climate, MeCD is committed towards providing commercial avenues with a view of maintaining the economic stability of the country apart from shoring up the value of the ringgit. Through its annual National Entrepreneur Movement (Gerak Usahawan Nasional), held in early February, budding local entrepreneurs had the opportunity to meet their successful Malaysian counterparts stationed locally as well as abroad, who provided them with valuable insights into the intricacies of their business endeavours.

Apart from promoting their products, the three-day programme served as the platform for these entrepreneurs to establish business networking, as well as create value-added services to their business chain. To enable more local products to penetrate outlets such as hypermarkets as well as for export, MeCD has also requested for an additional allocation for its Groom Big programme this year, to boost their promotional effort.

Through its network of agencies, MeCD also provides various support services ranging from business financing, training and skills development; to assisting local entrepreneurs acquire premises in which to start or expand their businesses.

Local entrepreneurs, especially the unemployed graduate who is about to embark on a business venture, should avail themselves to the window of opportunity provided by the wide network of resources and government agencies that are committed to supporting their endeavours.

Whence the market for products from small and medium sized industry (SMI) was previously confined to the rural areas, they now have the potential to expand even up to the international level. Tapioca chips, rempeyek – even budu, and various other SMI products have gained a fair share of the international market, and place on the shelves of supermarkets in foreign shores.

If such enterprise, especially franchise businesses involving specialised products or services, are undertaken by graduates, who are generally more informed and skilled, the potential for success would obviously be greater.

Faced with the dilemma of increasing unemployment among graduates as a result of the global economic slowdown, MeCD has taken measures to provide skills development and training to these graduates. Technical training and business development skills programmes are offered on a continuous basis to fresh graduates as well as those who have been retrenched, to enable them to survive in the event the economic crisis take a turn for the worse.

Browse this site for more news reports on the world of entrepreneurs, cooperatives and SMIs. For more report on the activities of the MeCD and its agencies, visit the ministry’s Entrepreneurs’ Portal.