SARAWAK will intensify efforts to strengthen its youth entrepreneurial ecosystem next year with the rollout of new facilities, expanded programmes and closer government–industry collaboration
Minister of Youth, Sports and Entrepreneur Development, Datuk Seri Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah, said the key initiative, the Youthpreneur Hub, developed in partnership with CENTEXS Commercial, aims to address long-standing gaps faced by young entrepreneurs, particularly those in food-based industries.
He said the hub would provide facilities many small businesses currently lack, including proper research and development (R&D) space, industrial-grade equipment and support for food safety certification.
“This hub will enable entrepreneurs to conduct real product R&D, refine recipes, test shelf life and innovate new food solutions using facilities that meet industry standards,” he said during his winding-up speech at the DUN today.
He emphasised that certification support will be a major component of the hub.
“Most importantly, the Youthpreneur Hub will help our entrepreneurs obtain certifications such as HACCP, GMP, MeSTI, Halal and proper nutritional labelling.
“With these, their products can finally enter supermarkets, online platforms and even regional export markets,” he said.
Abdul Karim added that building access to global-standard compliance was crucial for Sarawak’s next generation of food entrepreneurs.
“Without certification, their market reach is limited, but with certification, the doors open,” he said.
Additionally, he said the ministry will also expand its Youth Entrepreneur Setup (YES) 3.0 programme across more districts in 2026, introducing specialised tracks in technopreneurship, agribusiness, social enterprise and the creative industry.
“These tracks will ensure that youths in both urban and rural areas can access training that is relevant to real industry needs,” Abdul Karim said.
He stressed that the expansion was designed to give rural youth equal opportunities.
“We want to ensure the ecosystem reaches them, not just those in major towns,” he said.
Karim said that his ministry is working closely with the Ministry of International Trade, Industry and Investment (MINTRED) to form a Working Committee to advance MSME startup development.
“Preliminary discussions have already begun. This committee will formulate guidelines to enhance the participation of GLCs and private sector players in supporting MSME startups,” he said.
He said stronger industry involvement is needed to create a more resilient entrepreneurship landscape.
“This is about building a robust ecosystem. GLCs and the private sector must play a bigger role in shaping our young entrepreneurs,” he added.
Abdul Karim said these initiatives collectively reflect Sarawak’s commitment to developing future-ready entrepreneurs.
“We are building an environment where their ideas can grow into real, sustainable businesses,” he said.
