By WU VUIDE
KOTA KINABALU: Twenty-three Sabah entrepreneurs have received SME-UP grants totalling RM230,000 to improve product packaging and labelling and enhance their market competitiveness.
Deputy Chief Minister III and Industrial Development, Entrepreneurship and Transportation Minister Datuk Ewon Benedick said each entrepreneur received RM10,000 under the government initiative aimed at improving product quality and expanding their businesses.
“I hope the entrepreneurs who receive these grants will continue to succeed and become examples and inspiration to others, including graduates and young people who are still seeking employment.
“Hopefully, their success will encourage more people to venture into entrepreneurship,” he said after presenting the SME-UP (Packaging) grants to the 23 entrepreneurs at a ceremony here yesterday.
Ewon also hoped the assistance would be put to good use to increase productivity and expand the entrepreneurs’ businesses.
He thanked the Industrial Development and Research Department (DIDR), an agency under the Ministry of Industrial Development, Entrepreneurship and Transportation (MINDET), for its various initiatives to develop local entrepreneurs.
DIDR director Siti Nur’Ain Abdullah said the incentive was aimed at helping small and medium-sized enterprise (SME) entrepreneurs strengthen their businesses, increase productivity and expand business opportunities.
“We hope the recipients will make the best use of this assistance to expand their businesses, increase productivity and strengthen the competitiveness of SMEs in the market.
“The suppliers appointed for this assistance programme must also ensure that every entrepreneur receives quality equipment and facilities, including good and attractive packaging, so that their products are more competitive in the market,” she said.
She urged all recipients to make full use of the assistance to expand their businesses and increase their respective incomes.
Ewon (second, left), presenting the SME-UP grant to a recipient.
