(From left) Naroden, Abang Karim, Ting and Wei (behind Ting) during a photo call. – Photo by Chimon Upon

KUCHING: Nominations for the annual Sarawak State Entrepreneur of the Year Awards (EOYS) 2017 are now open.

First launched in 2004, EOYS is a prestigious awards programme to honour and acknowledge exceptional entrepreneurial talent and leadership.

Up to last year, almost 50 entrepreneurs from all over Sarawak have been given this recognition.

EOYS is organised by the Ministry of Industrial and Entrepreneur Development in association with Sarawak Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCl) and Ernst & Young.

Assistant Minister of Entrepreneur and Small, Medium Enterprise (SME) Development Datuk Mohd Naroden Majais, who launched this year’s nominations said EOYS aims to recognise the best in business in Sarawak – the prime movers that drive the state towards economic growth and Vision 2020.

He said it is also to recognise the success of up and coming entrepreneurs, who through their ingenuity, ideas, resourcefulness, commitment and hard work, have built businesses that contributed to the growth of our state’s economy; and encourage the growth of small and medium scale industries in Sarawak.

Naroden said emphasis would primarily be on the individual’s attributes over the company’s and in general, cover among others, demonstration of outstanding leadership vision, dedication as well as intelligent risk taking; company milestones with consideration of industry obstacles and each entrepreneur’s ability to overcome adversity; corporate culture, values and incentives; financial performance and growth record; and social responsibilities, reputation and contribution to the community that demonstrate the characteristics of a good model corporate citizen.

The awards are divided into three categories: Emerging Entrepreneur (business between two and five years old or entrepreneur aged 35 or under at the close of nomination); Master Entrepreneur (maintained management excellence over a sustained period, business founded more than five years ago); and Outstanding Entrepreneur (outside Sarawak running a successful business in Malaysia or overseas).

Nominations for the EOYS can be submitted to SCCI via business associations or individually by Aug 30.

The awards will be presented during SCCI’s 66th Annual Dinner on Nov 10.

For further enquiries, contact The Secretariat, SCCI on 082-237148 or email admin@scci.org.my.

Among those present at the launch were SCCI president Datuk Abang Abdul Karim Tun Openg, SCCI deputy president Datuk Philip Ting, and Ernst & Young manager (Assurance) Karen Wei.