Kuala lumpur: The addition of RM50 million in funds for the Bank Rakyat Indian Entrepreneur Financing (BRIEF-i) programme has successfully impacted the Indian entrepreneurial community, benefiting 577 recipients to date. Deputy Entrepreneur Development and Cooperatives Minister Datuk Seri R. Ramanan noted that 482 of these beneficiaries are micro-entrepreneurs, while 95 are involved with small and medium enterprises (SMEs).
According to BERNAMA News Agency, Ramanan highlighted the importance of BRIEF-i beyond being a financing programme, as it aids Indian entrepreneurs in elevating their business operations. This was stated during the BRIEF-i Programme Briefing Ceremony at Bank Rakyat Twin Towers, where RM3.275 million in cheques were distributed to 18 entrepreneurs through agencies under the Ministry of Entrepreneur Development and Cooperatives (KUSKOP), including Bank Rakyat, Amanah Ikhtiar Malaysia, TEKUN, and SME Corp.
Ramanan also pointed out the availability of three other main programmes for the Indian community: the Prosperity, Empowerment and A New Normal for Indian Women (PENN) programme, the Business Accelerator Programme for Indian Small Business (I-BAP), and the Indian Community Entrepreneur Development Financing Empowerment Scheme (Spumi Goes Big). These initiatives have benefited over 11,300 recipients so far.
In addition to financing, various grants are available through relevant agencies under KUSKOP, such as the Malaysian Cooperative Societies Commission (SKM), which offers specific grants, and SME Corp, which provides grants through the I-BAP programme. A special entity has also been established at Bank Rakyat to assist Indian entrepreneurs in obtaining halal certificates more efficiently.
Regarding his new responsibility to monitor projects related to Hindu temples and Tamil schools, Ramanan stated his commitment to ensuring the smooth implementation of four key initiatives, including the Indian Village project, the Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Lab for Tamil National Type Schools (SJKT), Dharma MADANI for temples, and one-off assistance to plantation workers. He plans to chair a coordination meeting to facilitate immediate assistance to the B40 group and places of worship.
For Tamil school projects, Ramanan mentioned that Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has approved a RM30 million allocation to upgrade five schools, with discussions with Education Minister Fadhlina Sidek scheduled before finalizing the implementation.