KUCHING: MARA’s entrepreneurship support programmes in Sarawak generated RM123.1 million in sales and created 2,120 job opportunities, reflecting strong outcomes from funding and capacity-building efforts across the state.
Rural and Regional Development Deputy Minister Datuk Rubiah Wang said the Sarawak-level MARA Entrepreneur Awards Ceremony (AURA) 2024–2025 was organised to recognise entrepreneur performance, resilience and competitiveness.
“For 2024 to 2025, a total of 9,974 entrepreneurs in Sarawak have benefited through the entrepreneurship facilities provided, whether in the form of business financing, grants, business development and training.”
“With an allocation of RM57.21 million channelled to micro, small and medium entrepreneurs in Sarawak, this initiative recorded sales totalling RM123.1 million and created 2,120 job opportunities for the local community,” she said in her speech when officiating the ceremony at Pullman Hotel Kuching on Friday night.
Rubiah said MARA’s support framework was designed to help entrepreneurs move up the value chain and expand into wider markets through a complete ecosystem of assistance.
“MARA has developed entrepreneurs up to get to global, meaning they have markets overseas, and my hope is that Sarawak entrepreneurs will not be left behind.”
“In other words, MARA has managed the development of entrepreneurs in a complete ecosystem, starting from knowledge, then to product, marketing, and support,” she said, describing the pathway as spanning training, financing, grants, premises, special entrepreneurship programmes and digital empowerment.
She said the comprehensive approach has also enabled business upgrading among local entrepreneurs.
“Through MARA’s entrepreneurship ecosystem that is comprehensive and inclusive, 156 micro enterprises have successfully moved up to small businesses, and eight small enterprises have been upgraded to medium enterprises,” she said.
Rubiah also highlighted strong financing demand in Sarawak and the scale of participation in the awards programme.
“I was informed that the loans we assisted for Sarawak entrepreneurs were originally RM30 million, but so far we have spent RM46 million to help Sarawak entrepreneurs.”
“I was also informed that 103 entrepreneurs were nominated at district level, and among the criteria considered were performance excellence, innovation, long-term potential, and contributions to community development,” she said.
She added that award recipients would be highlighted to represent Sarawak at the national-level AURA, reminding winners and nominees that the recognition should serve as motivation to go further.
“Today’s success is not a final achievement, but a starting point towards bigger achievements.
“Keep innovating, grow, and make a bigger contribution to the community, the state and our country.
“For those not selected this year, let it be a boost and motivation to rise and keep fighting without giving up.”
