30 Sabah Homestay Entrepreneurs Join BANGKIT INSKEN 2026

22 April 2026

KOTA KINABALU: A total of 30 homestay entrepreneurs from across Sabah have taken part in the Bumiputera Individual Coaching and Training Programme by the National Entrepreneurship Institute (BANGKIT INSKEN): Eco-Tourism Sabah 2026, a three-day programme which began on Monday at The Palace Hotel here.

Deputy Chief Minister III and Sabah Minister of Industrial Development, Entrepreneurship and Transport, Datuk Ewon Benedick, said this marks the first of three collaborative programmes between his ministry and the National Entrepreneurship Institute (INSKEN) this year.

“The Ministry of Industrial Development, Entrepreneurship and Transport (MINDET) Sabah is working closely with the National Entrepreneurship Institute (INSKEN) to implement three BANGKIT programmes across Sabah throughout the year.

“The BANGKIT INSKEN Sabah 2026 programme is an entrepreneurial development initiative led by INSKEN in strategic collaboration with MINDET, aimed at empowering local entrepreneurs to become more competitive, sustainable and scalable.

“The programme focuses on entrepreneur development through intensive training and structured coaching by an industry expert, Datuk Jeffry Ayah, also known as Datuk Cobra, the operator of Misompuru Homestay in Kudat,” he said.

He was speaking after attending a meet-and-greet session with participants of the Bumiputera Individual Coaching and Training Programme (BANGKIT) Sabah for the eco-tourism cluster here.

Ewon added that during the session, he also shared insights on entrepreneurial, industrial and transport development initiatives implemented by the Sabah Government through MINDET, including coordination with Federal Government agencies.

“I hope this BANGKIT programme will help drive these eco-tourism entrepreneurs towards continued success. I wish them all the best,” he said.

He noted that BANGKIT Sabah 2026 focuses on three key sectors, eco-tourism, digital business content creators, and food and beverage (F&B), with the aim of enhancing entrepreneurial knowledge and skills, productivity, and competitiveness.

The programme also seeks to support business scaling, strengthen micro-entrepreneurs in a structured manner, and provide high-impact practical exposure.

Spanning three months, the BANGKIT programme adopts a comprehensive three-phase approach, beginning with a three-day intensive workshop.

The second phase involves one-on-one coaching sessions with industry coaches, focusing on participants’ real business scenarios and monitoring the implementation of strategies.

The final phase offers practical exposure through industry visits and direct application within participants’ businesses.