Kuala Lumpur: The Entrepreneur and Cooperatives Development Ministry (KUSKOP) disbursed financing worth RM346.28 million to 9,937 entrepreneurs of micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) and cooperatives in Negeri Sembilan throughout 2024. Its Minister, Datuk Ewon Benedick, stated this was an increase compared to the RM340.26 million disbursed to 6,451 entrepreneurs and cooperatives in 2023.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, the financing was channeled through agencies under KUSKOP, including Bank Rakyat, TEKUN Nasional, SME Bank, Amanah Ikhtiar Malaysia, Perbadanan Nasional Berhad, SME Corp Malaysia, and the Malaysian Cooperative Societies Commission. Ewon made this announcement in a statement after meeting with Negeri Sembilan Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Aminuddin Harun at Parliament in Kuala Lumpur.

Ewon explained that KUSKOP also provided training to improve the expertise and competitiveness of entrepreneurs and cooperatives in the state. Throughout last year, 292 entrepreneurs received guidance from the National Institute of Entrepreneurship, while 123 cooperatives were guided by the Cooperative Institute of Malaysia.

He highlighted that two Negeri Sembilan cooperatives are listed under the Top 100 Cooperatives Profile. These are Koperasi Peserta-Peserta FELCRA Kawasan Kerangai Penagoh Negeri Sembilan Berhad, holding the 30th position, and Koperasi Peserta-Peserta FELCRA Gugusan Lakai Negeri Sembilan Berhad, in the 79th position.

Ewon added that his ministry will continue to cooperate with the Negeri Sembilan government to empower the entrepreneurship and cooperative sectors in the state through several committees. This cooperation aims to ensure that they benefit from the programmes provided by the government. He noted that this includes existing coordination mechanisms, such as the National Entrepreneurship Development Council, the National Cooperative Consultative Council, and the National Hawkers and Petty Traders Consultative Council.