Kuala lumpur: The government is set to launch a groundbreaking franchise-related initiative aimed at bolstering the development of the Indian community, announced Deputy Entrepreneur Development and Cooperatives Minister Datuk Seri R. Ramanan. The programme, crafted under the auspices of Perbadanan Nasional Bhd (PERNAS), is slated for launch later this month.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, Ramanan expressed his hopes that members of the Indian community would capitalize on this opportunity to enter the franchise sector, both as franchisors and franchisees, with financial support from his ministry, KUSKOP. He acknowledged the efforts of KUSKOP's Secretary-General Datuk Seri Khairul Dzaimee Daud and the ministry's staff in developing the programme, highlighting its potential to serve as an essential platform for the Indian community.
Ramanan emphasized the significance of this initiative as a new gateway for the Indian community to engage in the franchise sector, which had previously been less accessible. He encouraged the community to leverage this chance to expand their businesses and bring communal benefits. The minister shared these insights while addressing reporters at the Eighth ASEAN Inclusive Business Forum.
In addition to his role in this initiative, Ramanan oversees and monitors projects related to temples and Tamil schools. He mentioned that his team is actively compiling a list of temples to expedite project completion. He also noted that collaboration with the Education Ministry is ongoing to enhance ICT infrastructure and construct new Tamil schools.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim recently announced financial allocations in Parliament, including RM5 million for upgrading ICT labs in Tamil vernacular schools and RM20 million for empowering Hindu temples under the Dharma Madani Programme.
On the ASEAN Inclusive Business Forum, Ramanan pointed to the launch of the Capacity Building and Talent Development Framework for Inclusive Business in ASEAN as a significant milestone. This framework serves as a roadmap for member states to strengthen business capacity and promote inclusive business models.
He highlighted the role of Inclusive Business (IB) and Social Enterprise (SE) as key contributors to ASEAN's resilient economy, aligning with Malaysia's policies under the 13th Malaysia Plan (13MP). The 13MP aims to develop Malaysia's IB Action Plan by 2030, providing targeted incentives and recognizing companies adopting inclusive business models, involving 5,000 beneficiaries primarily from the B40 group.