KUALA LUMPUR: TEKUN Nasional, through the Indian Community Entrepreneur Development Financing Scheme (SPUMI), has provided financing amounting to RM149.9 million to 7,166 Indian entrepreneurs between 2019 and September 2024.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, the Entrepreneur and Cooperatives Development Ministry (KUSKOP) has, through its agencies, launched several programmes this year to assist entrepreneurs from the Indian community. Among these initiatives is the RM50 million Prosperity, Empowerment and A New Normal for Indian Women (PENN) programme under Amanah Ikhtiar Malaysia (AIM), which has seen 2,992 Sahabat AIM entrepreneurs receive approvals for financing worth RM27.78 million up to October.

Meanwhile, through the RM50 million Bank Rakyat Indian Entrepreneur Financing-i (BRIEF-i) programme, KUSKOP has provided financing amounting to RM34.91 million to 405 entrepreneurs during the same period. Additionally, 20 companies have received approvals for grants worth RM1.5 million under SME Corporation’s
RM6 million Business Accelerator Programme for Indian Small Business (I-BAP) up to October.

Another initiative, TEKUN Nasional’s RM30 million SPUMI Goes Big programme, has benefitted 271 entrepreneurs with approved financing valued at RM11.62 million during this period. KUSKOP provided these details in response to a question from Datuk A. Kesavadas Nair, who inquired about the funds channeled to Indians from the National Entrepreneurial Group Fund (TEKUN) from 2019 to 2023.

The ministry also highlighted its collaboration with various parties, including the Malaysian Indian Transformation Unit, Prime Minister’s Department, Malaysian Associated Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (MAICCI), and non-governmental organisations. These collaborations aim to disseminate information and enhance access to the entrepreneurship programmes and initiatives available to entrepreneurs from the Indian community.