KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 7 — Bumiputera entrepreneurs need to be more proactive and progressive in increasing their business skills in the respective industries, said Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Special Functions) Datuk Dr Abdul Latiff Ahmad.
He said Malaysia needs more Bumiputera startups to enhance national development and for that, the Bumiputera Agenda Steering Unit (TERAJU) played an important role as the main coordinator of the Bumiputera socioeconomy and economic agenda with a high trajectory through the Bumiputera Entrepreneur Start-up Scheme (SUPERB).
“On a global scale, startup value reached US$3 trillion (US$1= RM4.21), compatible with the gross domestic product (GDP) of the group of seven countries (G7).
“Furthermore, Malaysia scored 10 in terms of performance and market reach in the Global Start-Up Ecosystem Report 2020 (GSER 2020),” he said during the online SUPERB 2021 winners recognition ceremony today.
He believed that this programme can unravel talent as well as build the capacity of Bumiputera entrepreneurs to compete on the global stage.
During the ceremony, 25 SUPERB 2021 winners from Sabah, Terengganu, Pahang, Johor, Penang, Selangor and Kuala Lumpur were announced.
Winners have been selected from 60 finalists at the final stage based on innovation potential, commercialisation, resilience, global competitiveness through several screening processes, intensive accelerator training, as well as pitching sessions with industrial renowned juries since September last year.
According to TERAJU, more than 62 per cent of the products and services from 208 SUPERB entrepreneurs have been successfully commercialised in the local and international markets since the programme was launched in 2014.
Abdul Latiff said a Keluarga Teraju network would be established with all SUPERB entrepreneurs to facilitate business and partnership ventures.
TERAJU chief executive officer Md Silmi Abd Rahman said a total of 19 SUPERB 2021 winners have won funds of up to RM500,000 for the commercialisation stage while four winners at the idea creation stage have garnered funds up to RM100,000 with a total allocation of RM11.5 million.
“TERAJU will follow their progress as what we had done with 208 SUPERB winners before so that we can always provide support and networking opportunities through existing programmes and partnership,” he said.
He added that it also supports the direction of the Bumiputera Development Action 2030 (TPB2030), the essence of the Shared Prosperity Vision 2030 (SPV2030) and the main focus of the 12th Malaysia Plan.
Source: BERNAMA News Agency