The government hoped that there would be more Bumiputera small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in the country given that they are still given top priority in the 2017 Budget, says Deputy Minister of International Trade and Industry, Datuk Ahmad Maslan.
He said despite the current economic challenges, the government continued to be committed to Bumiputera SMEs, which received RM1.12 billion, or 16.8 per cent, from RM6.65 billion allocation for the development of SMEs in the country.
"Of the 645,000 SMEs in the country, only 37 per cent of them are Bumiputera SMEs, and 18 per cent of them are currently exporting," he told reporters after the UNIDO-IEEMMS certificate presentation ceremony here Tuesday.
Ahmad said among the agencies assisting Bumiputera SMEs were SME Bank, Tabung Ekonomi Kumpulan Usaha Niaga, Majlis Amanah Rakyat and the Bumiputera Agenda Steering Unit, with the collaboration of SME Corp.
UNIDO is the United Nations Industrial Development Organisation while IEEMMS is the Industrial Energy Efficiency for Malaysian Manufacturing Sector.
Minister of International Trade and Industry II, Datuk Seri Ong Ka Chuan, presented the certificates to 65 participants from 44 companies.
Ong said industry players should have action plans to continually improve energy performance.
Meanwhile, UNIDO Energy Department's Industrial Development Officer, Sanjaya Man Shrestha, said the UNIDO-IEEMMS project, started in 2012, was the largest tailor-made programme for Malaysia in South-East Asia.
"It is unique as it has all the elements to promote energy efficiency in industrial facilities.
"Through the programme, we showcased how manufacturing industries can manage savings by doing it themselves which are more cost-effective, and they could implement what they learnt at their company's facilities and translate into better profitability in the long run," said Shrestha.
One of the participants was Vathumalai, Founder and Brand Owner of food and beverages company, G&G Dessert Product Sdn Bhd.
He said the programme has exposed him to the importance of energy- efficiency.
"As an SME with limited sources, I am now aware of how crucial it is to reduce energy consumption and going green," he said. -- Bernama
Bernama
Tue Oct 25 2016
Ahmad Maslan says, of the 645,000 SMEs in the country, only 37% of them are Bumiputera SMEs, and 18% of them are currently exporting. - Filepic
Lelaki dipenjara dua tahun, cederakan adik kandung guna pisau pemotong daging
Seorang lelaki dihukum penjara dua tahun oleh Mahkamah Sesyen Selayang kerana mencederakan adiknya menggunakan sebilah pisau pemotong daging.
Perang Iran-Israel: Malaysia pantau kesan terhadap ekonomi - Tengku Zafrul
Kementerian Pelaburan, Perdagangan dan Industri memantau rapat perkembangan ketegangan geopolitik di Asia Barat termasuk membabitkan Iran dan Israel susulan letupan di Isfahan hari ini.
"OIC dah tak bermakna, tak berguna dalam meredakan ketegangan"
Pandangan dikongsi Prof Dr Salawati Mat Basir, Pakar undang-undang antarabangsa, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM).
Perjuangan PBB banyak disekat oleh AS dan EU
Sementara itu, Prof. Madya Dr. Mohd Yazid Zul Kepli berkata tidak wajar menyalahkan Pertubuhan Bangsa-Bangsa Bersatu (PBB) yang telah konsisten mengutuk tindakan israel dan berusaha gigih dalam membawa penyelesaian damai dalam isu ini.
Tindakan Israel mencetuskan ketegangan lebih buruk di Asia Barat
Pakar Undang-undang Antabangsa, Kulliyyah Undang-undang Ahmad Ibrahim (AIKOL), Universiti Islam Antarabangsa Malaysia (UIAM), kesediaan Iran untuk bertindak balas dengan segera dan tegas menunjukkan bahawa mereka tidak akan berdiam diri dalam menghadapi sebarang ancaman terhadap kedaulatan dan keselamatan negara mereka.
Perang Iran-Israel: Kerajaan mesyuarat petang ini, termasuk bawa pulang rakyat Malaysia
Kerajaan akan mengadakan mesyuarat khas petang ini bagi membincangkan situasi semasa di Iran termasuk kemungkinan membawa pulang rakyat Malaysia di negara itu susulan serangan rejim Israel.
Usaha tingkatkan kadar gaji penjawat awam diumum Hari Pekerja - PM Anwar
Cadangan penambahbaikan, usaha tingkatkan kadar pendapatan bersih penjawat awam akan diumumkan pada Hari Pekerja, kata Perdana Menteri
Mangsa serangan buaya boleh minta bantuan tabung JKM - Nancy
Mangsa serangan buaya atau binatang buas boleh memohon bantuan daripada Jabatan Kebajikan Masyarakat (JKM) menerusi Tabung Bantuan Mangsa Serangan Binatang Buas.
Iran nafi diserang Israel, anggap propaganda media Barat
Pegawai Kerajaan Iran mendakwa mendakwa, ia hanyalah sebahagian daripada propaganda media barat, untuk mengelirukan pandangan dunia.
AWANI Ringkas: Beras dibuang sebab telah rosak, tidak selamat
Ikuti rangkuman berita utama yang menjadi tumpuan sepanjang hari di Astro AWANI menerusi AWANI Ringkas.