MSME Entrepreneur Carnival Boosts Local Sales and Government Outreach

2 May 2026

TENOM: The Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises(MSME) Entrepreneur Carnival serves as a vital platform for marketing local entrepreneurs' products and expanding government agency information reach to the local community.

Sabah Deputy Chief Minister III and Minister of Industrial Development, Entrepreneurship and Transport, Datuk Ewon Benedick, said the event represents the state government's approach to helping entrepreneurs promote and sell their products more widely.

"This is an approach where we believe entrepreneurs need space through carnivals like this to showcase and sell their products," he stated.

Ewon said this to reporters after officiating the 2026 Sabah PMKS Entrepreneur Carnival Tenom Zone at the Open Stage of Tenom Municipal Field here today.

He noted that, beyond marketing opportunities, the carnival brings together various federal and state government agencies and departments to deliver information and initiatives directly to district-level entrepreneurs.

"At the same time, we have exhibitions from various agencies so that information under their respective responsibilities can be conveyed directly to the entrepreneur community," he added.

Ewon said the Tenom carnival is the first stop in the 2026 Sabah PMKS Entrepreneur Carnival series, with three more districts to follow this year.

"This year, the ministry will hold four such carnivals as platforms for PMKS entrepreneurs to market their products, while enabling government agencies to channel their information and initiatives," he explained.

Meanwhile, he announced that the state government has approved a special Entrepreneurship Development Fund with an initial RM1 million to assist PMKS entrepreneurs facing challenges.

Additionally, Ewon said his ministry is conducting the SME Up Sabah tour, offering various aids including grants for trademark registration, intellectual property, and purchases of packaging and production machines.

"Applications remain open until 16 May before we process all received applications," he said.

Other support includes opportunities for local entrepreneurs to join international expos and mentoring programmes by agencies and government-linked companies like SEDCO.

In a related development, Ewon said the state government is continuing the Coordination Committee with the federal government to strengthen entrepreneurship development in Sabah.

"We hope through this coordination, greater benefits can be enjoyed by PMKS entrepreneurs across the state," he added.

Organised by the Ministry of Industrial Development, Entrepreneurship and Transport (MINDET) in collaboration with various government departments and agencies, the three-day carnival began yesterday (1 May) with attractive activities for visitors.

Also present were Sabah Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food Industry Datuk Jamawi Jaafar, Assistant Minister of Industrial Development, Entrepreneurship and Transport Datuk Jonnybone Kurum, MINDET Permanent Secretary Datuk Thomas Logijin, Tenom District Officer cum Co-Chairman of the Carnival Alexander Liew, heads of state and federal government agencies, and MINDET officers.