GROW, GROW PLUS PARTICIPANTS RECORD CUMULATIVE SALES OF RM106 MILLION

SHAH ALAM, Dec 9 (Bernama) -- Participants of the Graduate Entrepreneur Programme (GROW) and its advanced programme, GROW PLUS, organised by the Selangor Development Corporation (PKNS), recorded cumulative sales of RM105.6 million in the first nine months of this year, underscoring the effectiveness of the corporation’s structured guidance model.

PKNS Entrepreneur Development Manager Yuzawati Yusof said the strong performance reflects PKNS’s success in driving the transformation of micro and small graduate entrepreneurs through strategic marketing support, intensive training and enhanced professionalism in business management.

“This year’s sales figures clearly demonstrate the participants’ determination in applying the modules and strategies delivered through the intensive training sessions.

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“We have seen consistent improvements in marketing, network expansion and participants’ resilience in strengthening operations to boost their competitiveness,” she said at the closing ceremony of the GROW and GROW PLUS Modular Programmes held at the PKNS Headquarters today.

A total of 60 entrepreneurs graduated after completing more than 20 modules, which included intensive training, scheduled assessments and comprehensive business skills development sessions conducted from March to November.

The ceremony was also attended by Selangor Youth, Sports and Entrepreneurship Committee chairman Mohd Najwan Halimi.

Yuzawati said the GROW programme recorded RM8.82 million in sales, rising to RM1.38 million in November alone, reflecting the effectiveness of enhanced marketing strategies.

Meanwhile, GROW PLUS achieved RM96.8 million, with sales jumping from RM4.19 million in March to RM21.74 million in November.

“This strong sales performance proves that the combination of modules, coaching sessions and continuous monitoring has a direct impact on participants’ development.

“PKNS will continue strengthening its approach to ensure entrepreneurs are well-prepared to compete both domestically and internationally,” she said.

Meanwhile, Mohd Najwan said the nearly RM106 million in combined sales recorded by programme participants demonstrates the ability of local entrepreneurs to grow and compete when equipped with accurate and effective guidance.

He advised the participants to support other entrepreneurs who have yet to achieve similar levels of income, especially after benefiting from the programme.

“The state government, through PKNS, will continue identifying small and medium enterprise (SME) entrepreneurs, including micro entrepreneurs, who have the potential to be developed in terms of operations and marketing.

“Entrepreneurs must remain open to gaining new knowledge, be willing to be guided and make full use of the programmes offered according to their business segments under the PKNS Entrepreneur Development Division,” he said.

Earlier, Mohd Najwan presented mock cheques to the top five finalists from each programme after they presented their business models before a panel of professional judges. The winners took home RM3,000 (First Place), RM2,000 (Second Place) and RM1,000 (Third Place).

The GROW programme, established in 2006, focuses on systematically enhancing marketing and management skills for micro graduate entrepreneurs, while the GROW PLUS programme, introduced in 2023, targets small entrepreneurs to strengthen their business capacity and enable them to penetrate the international market.

-- BERNAMA