PENN PROGRAMME HAS HELPED 3,577 INDIAN ENTREPRENEURS WITH TOTAL FINANCING OF RM32.65 MLN

KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 24 (Bernama) -- A total of 3,577 Indian entrepreneurs have received financing amounting to RM32.65 million under the Prosperity, Empowerment and A New Normal for Indian Women (PENN) programme as of Dec 31, 2024.

Deputy Minister of Entrepreneur and Cooperatives Development Datuk Seri R. Ramanan said the initiative, managed by Amanah Ikhtiar Malaysia, has helped Indian women become entrepreneurs and thus make progress for themselves and their families.

“The Ministry of Entrepreneur and Cooperatives Development (Kuskop) and its agencies are committed to encouraging women, including housewives, to engage in entrepreneurship by providing mentoring and entrepreneurial training programmes that cover technology, skills, and business management,” he said during the question-and-answer session in the Dewan Rakyat today.

He was responding to a question from Datuk Muslimin Yahaya (PN-Sungai Besar), who inquired about the ministry's efforts to encourage couples in households, particularly housewives, to become micro-entrepreneurs, especially by exposing them to the latest technologies, skills training, and business courses.

The PENN programme was launched on April 13, 2024, involving a special fund of RM50 million.

Ramanan also highlighted other programmes offered by Kuskop agencies, including the basic entrepreneurship programmes under Institut Keusahawan Negara Bhd (Insken).

Insken provides coaching and exposure to new entrepreneurs who wish to start a business through programmes such as the Basic Entrepreneurship Course, Industry-Based Training, Insken Business Training, and BizClinic business consultation session.

“In 2024, a total of 287 women entrepreneurs who are housewives have benefited from these programmes,” he said.

Meanwhile, Tekun Nasional Bhd has provided the Online Financing Scheme (SPOT) to 649 women entrepreneurs running online or home-based businesses in 2024.

Ramanan also mentioned Bank Rakyat’s RAKYATPreneur B40 (iTekad) programme that offers training and guidance for B40 entrepreneurs with the aim of enhancing their financial management skills.

He said 140 B40 women entrepreneurs benefited from this programme last year.

-- BERNAMA