AIM and Poverty Alleviation through Women Entrepreneurs Development - Ewon

9 March 2024

By Wartawan Nabalu News

KOTA BELUD: Entrepreneur Development and Cooperatives (MEDC) Minister Datuk Ewon Benedick said the success of Amanah Ikhtiar Malaysia (AIM) in helping entrepreneurs across the country proved to be effective in dealing with incidents of poverty by developing women entrepreneurs.

As such, AIM has been chosen to be the lead agency for the ministry's special program, which is the poverty alleviation program in the three poorest districts in Sabah, namely Kota Marudu, Kudat and Kota Belud, he said.

"AIM's success in tackling poverty and developing women entrepreneurs has been proven through the success of entrepreneurs who have received funding from the agency.

"That's why at the ministry level, we have chosen AIM to be the lead agency for a special program of the Ministry of Entrepreneur Development and Cooperatives, which is a program to eradicate poverty in the three districts with the most incidents of poverty.

"We are in the process of detailing the implementation of this program and after it is finalized, we will launch it," he said when completing the 'Back to School' Programme organised by AIM, at the Kadamaian Square Open House, here, today.

Regarding the facilities in the Kadamaian Square area, Ewon said, the area will be equipped with lampposts to enable traders in the area including Sahabat AIM to conduct business at night.

"My ministry will implement the Tamu Desa Project starting this year and we will upgrade the facilities in the Kadamaian Square area so that Tamu Malam here can continue," he said.

Speaking to reporters, Ewon said that so far AIM has helped more than 320,000 female entrepreneurs nationwide and of that number, almost 54,000 AIM Friends or female entrepreneurs are from Sabah.

"This is a large amount in micro, small and medium enterprises (PMKS) among women and constitutes a high percentage in terms of ownership of PMKS in our country.

"The success is due to the efforts and role of AIM which is one of the agencies under my ministry," he said.

Ewon said, based on his visits to the premises of AIM entrepreneurs in several states so far, most AIM entrepreneurs who previously only ran small businesses are now achieving great success as a result of funding from AIM.

He said, AIM entrepreneurs are not only successful in growing businesses from small scale to large scale businesses but are also able to help other entrepreneurs.

"I have visited the field to see the companies of AIM's friends in shops and mini-factories, they greatly appreciate the help whether it is financing, guidance or AIM's support.

"For that reason, we greatly appreciate AIM's role in developing women entrepreneurs in this country. I also want each of their success stories to be highlighted to motivate other women to achieve success as well," she said.

Meanwhile, the Chairman of the AIM Board of Trustees, Datuk Seri Syed Hussian Syed Junid said this year, AIM has allocated RM231.6 million for Sabah to enable more Sabah Entrepreneurs and women to receive benefits through various financing schemes.

"Across Sabah AIM has a total of 53,912 which is almost 54,000 female entrepreneurs under AIM.

"Of that number, 3,757 AIM Friends from Kota Belud and 1,356 are Friends of Entrepreneurs in the Kadamaian State Assembly covering six Blocks from 35 Centres," he said.