Over RM270mil given to Johor businesses

JOHOR BARU: More than 13,000 entrepreneurs in Johor have benefited from RM272.6mil in funds disbursed by the Entrepreneur Development and Cooperatives Ministry.

Its minister Datuk Ewon Benedick said this includes RM81.5mil allocated to 10,672 Amanah Ikhtiar Malaysia members and RM41.8mil to 2,083 Tekun Nasional entrepreneurs.

The funds were also given through various agencies such as Bank Rakyat, which has provided RM57.3mil in financing to 297 entrepreneurs, and SME Corp, which has approved RM91.4mil to 37 entrepreneurs, from January to May this year.

“Perbadanan Nasional Bhd has also approved franchise financing of RM660,000 to two companies,” he told reporters after the closing ceremony of the southern region phase of the One District One Industry (SDSI) initiative at Plaza Angsana Johor Baru Mall here yesterday.

Ewon said the three-day event, which started last Friday, has recorded RM1.13mil in sales, surpassing the initial target of RM1mil.

“The exhibition also achieved RM9.22mil in potential sales, RM23.9mil in potential financing, and RM17mil in potential business matching.

“We have also handed over business financing cheques totaling RM25.7mil to 389 entrepreneurs in Johor,” he added.

Ewon said SDSI aims to create an inclusive entrepreneurial ecosystem for participants and local entrepreneurs, besides providing a platform to exhibit and sell products representing specific districts.

“The entrepreneurs are also exposed to training programmes and given access to financing opportunities offered by the ministry and its agencies,” he said.

Ewon added that the exhibition aims to educate the public about the high potential of SDSI products to penetrate international markets.

“We hope that these products will not only excel regionally but also gain significant demand at the international level.

“This is a government initiative to assist the rural economy in line with the integrated rural development policy,” he said.