Kuala lumpur: Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi has urged Bumiputera entrepreneurs, particularly women, to venture into the international market with Malaysian-branded products to enhance the nation's economic standing globally.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, Dr Ahmad Zahid announced that Majlis Amanah Rakyat (MARA) will launch a Gate to Global programme. This initiative aims to provide entrepreneurs with the opportunity to market their products abroad under a single, MARA-recognized brand. He emphasized the importance of a unified brand identity, suggesting that products manufactured in places like Sabah can strengthen regional recognition and contribute to Malaysia's global presence.

During the MARA Women's Empowerment Programme and the Malaysia MADANI Nationhood Seminar, Dr Ahmad Zahid highlighted the government's commitment to empowering the entrepreneurship sector. He revealed that RM52 billion has been allocated for the coming year, involving 17 ministries, with MARA receiving RM4 billion under Budget 2026. The focus on women entrepreneurs stems from their proven reliability in business management, especially regarding loan repayment, as evidenced by Amanah Ikhtiar Malaysia's low non-performing loan rate of 0.25 per cent among women.

Dr Ahmad Zahid emphasized that the Bumiputera sector should not depend solely on grants for success but should also consider loans and ongoing guidance to foster sustainable business growth. The government has set targets to elevate five per cent of micro entrepreneurs to small business status annually, and similarly, to promote five per cent of small businesses to the medium category, aiming for eventual listing on Bursa Malaysia.

He further encouraged Bumiputera entrepreneurs to engage in high-value sectors, such as the global halal products market, projected to reach US$5 trillion by 2030.