Kota Kinabalu: The 2024 SME-UP programme is now open for applications until 11th, October 2024 exclusively to help small and medium entrepreneurs, who seek assistance, to grow and expand their businesses.
Minister of Industrial Development and Entrepreneurship Sabah, Phoong Jin Zhe, who announced this, said the SME-UP programme aims to increase SME production capacity, focusing on upscaling SMEs to export and enlarging their market share.
This year, he said there are two categories of assistance provided through the SME-UP programme: machinery and equipment, as well as packaging and labeling (propel).
“These two categories of assistance are targeted at SMEs in the manufacturing sector producing food, beverages, crafts, and non-food products.
“Sabah SME entrepreneurs who wish to apply for SME-UP assistance should visit the SME-UP portal at www.smedidr. com.my to apply for the assistance,” he said in a statement here on Tuesday.
Phoong made the announcement following his visits to five local manufacturers in Tawau and he handed over two pieces of machinery assistance that were approved through the 2023 SME-UP Programme to two local manufacturers, Million Allplus Sdn Bhd and Shasyn Food Processing Sdn Bhd.
“We are focused on boosting our local manufacturing industry. We want to help local manufacturers grow and witness them prosper,” he said.
He said entrepreneurs interested in applying for this assistance must meet the criteria set by the SME-UP assistance application committee, which are:
- SMEs from the manufacturing sector
- Have a valid business license (minimum of 2 years).
- The applicant must be a Malaysian citizen originating from Sabah.
- The business must operate in Sabah.
Submit performance indicators such as sales, production capacity, business premises, number of employees, certification, and packaging quality.
To ensure fairness and equality, Phoong said entrepreneurs who have previously received assistance are not allowed to apply in the same category but are allowed to apply in different categories of assistance.
“The selection process for the SME-UP programme application will be carried out in stages through the evaluation and decision committee.
“Each application will be processed as quickly as possible so that approved applicants do not have to wait long to receive SME-UP assistance,” he said.
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