KUSKOP TARGETS RM50 MILLION AIM FUNDING FOR INDIAN WOMEN ENTREPRENEURS THIS YEAR

KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 25 (Bernama) -- The Ministry of Entrepreneur and Cooperative Development (KUSKOP) is targeting a RM50 million allocation in financing access, through Amanah Ikhtiar Malaysia (AIM), this year, specifically to empower new women entrepreneurs from the Indian community.

Deputy Minister Datuk Mohamad Alamin said the performance of Indian women entrepreneurs receiving AIM financing has shown a significant upward trend, particularly in the post-COVID-19 pandemic period.

“The most notable increase was in 2024, when we recorded a rise to 3,577 entrepreneurs, including 1,605 new borrowers, or 44.87 per cent. This figure continued to climb in 2025, to 4,739 entrepreneurs, with 2,597 new borrowers, or 54.8 per cent.

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“This performance reflects the momentum of recovery, and the growing confidence among Indian women entrepreneurs in the financing facilities provided,” he said, during a question-and-answer session at the Dewan Negara, today.

He said this in his reply to a question from Senator K. Saraswathy, on the progress of the AIM financing scheme for the community, including the number of new borrowers recorded each year

Elaborating further, he explained that the services sector remains the most dominant field among Indian women entrepreneurs, accounting for 66.17 per cent, encompassing businesses such as direct sales, cleaning services, mini-markets, tailoring, and vehicle workshops.

This is followed by the food and beverage (F&B) sector at 30.34 per cent, while the remaining 3.49 per cent involves the tourism, livestock, and agriculture sectors.

Meanwhile, Mohamad Alamin said that the ministry, through its agencies, such as the Institut Keusahawanan Negara (INSKEN) and SME Corp, remains committed to providing guidance and training, including in the areas of digitalisation and artificial intelligence (AI), to ensure that small and medium enterprise (SME) entrepreneurs remain competitive.

He also expressed the ministry’s readiness to collaborate with the Malaysian Indian Transformation Unit (MITRA), to discuss proposals related to loan interest costs and additional support for entrepreneurs from the Indian community.

-- BERNAMA