PUNB'S PROSPER IMPACT E-PEROLEHAN OFFERS WORKING CAPITAL FOR GOV'T CONTRACTS

BUTTERWORTH, Nov 17 (Bernama) -- Perbadanan Usahawan Nasional Berhad (PUNB) has introduced PROSPER Impact e-Perolehan, a financing scheme specially to help entrepreneurs implement government projects under the e-Perolehan system.

PUNB chief executive officer Izwan Zainuddin said the scheme, launched on Oct 1, was a syariah-compliant scheme that offered working capital between RM100,000 and RM5 million, and would indirectly help bumiputera entrepreneurs secure government contracts without worrying about the lack of working capital.

“This scheme was introduced based on feedback from entrepreneurs in engagement sessions we hold frequently to gather input on their needs not only in the Peninsular but also Sabah and Sarawak.

“Currently, we have approved almost RM10 million in financing and we still have around 20 companies at the evaluation process, this shows the very encouraging response and we hope more entrepreneurs will take the opportunity to apply for this scheme,” he said when met at a PUNB northern region entrepreneur networking session here today.

Entrepreneurs have a chance of securing financing at a profit rate of up to 6.5 per cent with a financing period of up to five  years or subject to the period of the contract, with financing of up to 90 per cent of the contract value and 21-working day approval period.

“For next year, we are aiming to approve RM100 million under the PROSPER Impact e-Perolehan,  with 60 to 90 entrepreneurs,” Izwan said. adding that since PUNB’s establishment, it has helped 1,623 entrepreneurs in the north region with financing exceeding RM765 million and 344 entrepreneur partners identified as active till now.

From January till October, he said that PUNB had approved RM25.5 million in business financing to 54 companies in the north region with RM9.4 million channelled to 17 companies in Penang, exceeding the targeted RM22.14 million.

He also said that the sectors with most entrepreneurs were food and beverages, motor vehicles, clothes, textiles and accessories, retail as well as appliances and engineering services.

Over 200 entrepreneur partners and bumiputera entrepreneurs from the north region - Penang, Kedah, Perlis and northern Perak - joined the one-day PUNB northern region entrepreneur networking session held today, which included a briefing on PROSPER Impact e-Perolehan.

PUNB has also taken a strategic step to improve the resilience of its entrepreneur partners by signing a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Credit Counselling and Debt Management Agency (AKPK), signed by Izwan on behalf of PUNB and AKPK chief executive officer Azaddin Ngah Tasir. 

Izwan described the signing as a proactive measure to ensure PUNB entrepreneur partners could not only expand their business, but also be sustainable and  competitive in any economic situation, adding that the MoU allowed PUNB to be recognised as a Participating Financial Institution and provide free access to its entrepreneur partners to various AKPK services, including financial education, advice and credit management programmes.

Meanwhile, Azaddin said currently over 6,200 micro, small and medium enterprises (MSME) have benefited from the credit management programme, involving financing worth RM6 billion, and provided room for them to restore their operations and stabilise their finances.

“This initiative is also capable of improving governance, resilience and build business sustainability in line with AKPK’s role as the catalyst for the country’s financial well-being,” he said.

For more information on PUNB initiatives and financing, visit www.punb.com.my or its social media  @punbofficial.

-- BERNAMA