KUALA LUMPUR – The Entrepreneur and Cooperatives Development Ministry will set up a council for entrepreneurs, cooperatives, hawkers, and petty traders this year, said its deputy minister K. Saraswathy.
She said this was aimed at facilitating matters, including on licences and business sites, and that the ministry was still studying in detail the preparation of the terms of reference document before its implementation is announced later.
“This is the government’s initiative to expedite the delivery system instead of the people always relying on the MPs to bring up (any issues) with the ministry… so, this will make it easier for the community,” she said.
She said the council would also be a one-stop centre for entrepreneurs, cooperatives, hawkers, and petty traders – involving local authorities in every district in their respective states – with monitoring carried out by the ministry.
Previously, Entrepreneur and Cooperatives Development Minister Datuk Ewon Benedick expressed hope that the council – to be chaired by the respective district officers – would be able to manage development and resolve issues involving entrepreneurs, cooperatives, hawkers, and petty traders at the grassroots level more effectively.
Commenting on the re-tabling of Budget 2023, which will focus on small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), Saraswathy believes that it is capable of boosting the national economy.
“On our part, we want to focus on the development of new entrepreneurs and also help existing ones to grow from small to medium and from medium to large.
“… So, we have three objectives, namely to assist entrepreneurs to increase their involvement; to focus (development of entrepreneurs) on current interests which is to lower the cost of living; and paying attention to the export industry,” she said.
Earlier, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim was reported to have said that the government would focus on SMEs when the 2023 budget is presented again next month. – Bernama, January 26, 2023
