From fifth left to fourth right: Samat, Naroden, Awang Tengah and Megat pose for a photo with Facilitation Fund recipients after the presentation.

KUCHING: The signing of a memorandum of understanding (MOU) between the state government’s Entrepreneur Development and Halal Industry Unit and Bumiputera Agenda Steering Unit (Teraju) is set to benefit micro and small entrepreneurs in the state, said Assistant Minister in the Chief Minister’s Office (Bumiputera Entrepreneur Development) Datuk Naroden Majais.

The MOU for Sarawak Entrepreneur Fund amounting to RM15 million channelled by Teraju aims to expand the business of micro and small entrepreneurs especially in rural areas, strengthen their skills and capacity, and to increase Bumiputera participation in business, he said.

“Six locations have been identified – Darul Hana (Kuching), Lundu, Betong, Lawas, Miri and Sibu – for infrastructure development involving 500 sales stalls which will benefit 500 entrepreneurs. With the infrastructure, the entrepreneurs can improve their business and enable them to apply for ‘halal’ certification,” said Naroden in his speech at the MOU signing ceremony at a hotel here yesterday.

“If they operate from home or roadside stalls, it is hard for them to obtain ‘halal’ certification and stunt the growth of their business.”

The MOU was signed by Teraju Entrepreneur Development Department senior director Megat Yatim and Entrepreneur Development and Halal Industry Unit director Samat Junai, witnessed by Second Minister of Resource Planning and Environment Datuk Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hasan and Naroden.

At the same event, seven companies – Betong Premix Sdn Bhd, Cahaya Eco Prima Sdn Bhd, Fieldmart Sdn Bhd, Nursinar Development Sdn Bhd, Persafe Engineering Sdn Bhd, Petra Jaya Properties Sdn Bhd and Sumiran Entreprise Sdn Bhd – received Facilitation Fund amounting to RM6.7 million with project cost of RM60.7 million.

Naroden said the Facilitation Fund was formed as tipping point to private investment initiative and a grant of 15 per cent of total cost was given to Bumiputera companies, with minimum cost of RM2.5 million to be eligible to be considered.

Since Teraju was formed in Sarawak in 2012, a total of RM108 million had been approved for 37 Bumiputera companies with project costs of RM804 million, he said.