Database soon to spur viable entrepreneurs: Tangau
Published on: Sunday, October 13, 2019
By: Sherell Jeffrey
KOTA KINABALU: The Sabah Ministry of Trade and Industry, in collaboration with the State Economic Planning Unit (Upen), hopes to spur viable entrepreneurs with a database scheduled to be launched by end of this year.
The database will be an interactive one where entrepreneurs can update their profiles, according to its Minister Datuk Seri Wilfred Madius Tangau.
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Tangau, who is also Deputy Chief Minister, said they will continue to identify attainable entrepreneurs through the database, which in turn will be provided with various government assistance.
He further explained that once the database is ready, it will not only allow the Ministry to know entrepreneurs from all sectors but entrepreneurs can also get directly in touch with agents from other countries.
He said having the database in place will also facilitate the Ministry in identifying which entrepreneurs are feasible, which ones are still in the process of developing and which ones still need more help.
“The database is currently being set up by Upen who will hand it over to my Ministry during the launching,” he said.
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He again reiterated that his Ministry hopes to produce 100 successful entrepreneurs annually, with a set target of 1,000 successful entrepreneurs in Sabah by 2030.
The database is scheduled to be launched by the Chief Minister in conjunction with the Minggu Usahawan Sabah in December.
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“The Minggu Usahawan Sabah will also see deserving entrepreneurs awarded the Tokoh Usahawan,” he said after launching the State-level National Consumer Day and Hawkers and Small Traders Day celebration at the Polytechnic, here, Saturday.
The two-day event featuring small and medium enterprises was jointly organised by the State Trade and Industry Ministry, Ministry of Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs, and Polytechnic Kota Kinabalu.
Tangau also talked about the importance of strong collaboration between state and federal agencies towards boosting economic growth, in line with the recently launched Shared Prosperity Vision 2030 blueprint.
He noted that the Government wants to increase the current RM1 trillion national gross domestic product (GDP) to over RM3 trillion by 2030.
He also noted that Sabah, despite being a huge state rich in resources, only contributes six per cent or RM80 billion to the RM1 trillion nationwide GDP.
He said although Selangor is much smaller in land size compared to Sabah, yet it is able to contribute 40 per cent or RM400 billion to the nation’s GDP.
“Just imagine how far behind Sabah is in terms of economy. That is why entrepreneurs’ role in our effort to generate income and economy for the State is very critical and important.
“Hence the reason we want strong collaboration from various agencies both at federal and state level to coordinate programmes which will enable us to see and identify entrepreneurs who are capable of succeeding,” he said.
On another note, while welcoming the RM5.2 billion development expenditure announced in the 2020 National Budget, Tangau said the State will continue to push for matters related to the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63).
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