MARA Entrepreneurs Urged to Leverage ASEAN Chair Position
PUTRAJAYA: Entrepreneurs under Majlis Amanah Rakyat (MARA) are urged to leverage Malaysia’s position as the 2025 ASEAN Chair to showcase and promote their products.
Opportunities Ahead
Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi called for preparations to begin now, by enhancing productivity.
"Malaysia will be the ASEAN Chair next year. For this, I wish to bring all of you to showcase our products at the ASEAN-Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) + China Summit, which will be held in the middle of next year," he said.
"I also want entrepreneurs nurtured by MARA to showcase their products at the Malaysia International Halal Showcase (MIHAS)@ASEAN Summit to be held in our country, especially women entrepreneurs," he added.
MARA’s Success and Competence
Ahmad Zahid highlighted the success and competence of MARA entrepreneurs, expressing his intention to lead a delegation to MIHAS in Shanghai next year.
"MARA has the Gate to Global (GTG) programme. What does it mean for us? It signifies that MARA is not only excelling locally but also a national and global champion representing Bumiputera entrepreneurs," he said.
Recent Achievements
Recalling his recent official visit to Dubai, he expressed pride in the participation of 15 MARA entrepreneurs at MIHAS Dubai, which achieved sales worth RM137 million.
"Due to these successive successes, the government has no doubts about continuing to support MARA’s role in Bumiputera entrepreneurship development and empowerment, as reflected in the RM485 million budget allocation for 2025," he said.
Under Budget 2024, MARA had been allocated RM481 million for entrepreneurship development programmes, including entrepreneurial training, grants, business premises, and business financing facilities.
Enhancing Productivity
Ahmad Zahid proposed several measures to ensure businesses remained resilient and relevant in the face of current challenges.
"These include enhancing digital efficiency by adopting technologies such as e-commerce, social media marketing, and business management software, diversifying products and services, managing finances wisely, and upskilling knowledge and expertise," he said.
Award Ceremony
AURA is a biennial event celebrating the excellence of Bumiputera entrepreneurs in various sectors. The MARA Entrepreneur Icon Award was won by Bateriku (M) Sdn Bhd, the Best Brand Award by Rizman Ruzaini Creations (M) Sdn Bhd, while the MARA Special Programme Entrepreneur Award was secured by FA Medical Sdn Bhd.
Conclusion
With MARA entrepreneurs urged to leverage Malaysia’s position as the 2025 ASEAN Chair, it is crucial that they take advantage of the opportunities presented to showcase and promote their products. With the support of the government and the success of MARA’s programmes, the future looks promising for these entrepreneurs.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What is the purpose of the ASEAN Chair position?
A: The ASEAN Chair position is an opportunity for Malaysia to showcase and promote its products to the global market.
Q: What is the Gate to Global (GTG) programme?
A: The GTG programme signifies that MARA is not only excelling locally but also a national and global champion representing Bumiputera entrepreneurs.
Q: What is the budget allocation for MARA’s entrepreneurship development programmes?
A: The budget allocation for MARA’s entrepreneurship development programmes is RM485 million for 2025.