Strengthen the spirit of cooperation

9 May 2024

By AVV

KUALA LUMPUR: All Ministry of Entrepreneur Development and Cooperatives (MEDC) and agency members must strengthen the spirit of cooperation and teamwork and avoid working in isolation to deliver services, so that no group of entrepreneurs and cooperatives is left behind in receiving the necessary assistance.

MEDC Minister Datuk Ewon Benedick said the Prime Minister Datuk Anwar Ibrahim had emphasised the importance of cooperation and synergy among the Ministry and agencies to avoid implementation overlaps and ensure comprehensive and complementary services are provided to entrepreneurs and SMEs.

Speaking during a reception of MEDC members and Agencies at Tun Abdul Razak Hall, Bank Rakyat recently, he shared that KUSKOP has organised and participated in various MADANI programmes such as the Entrepreneur Carnival and MADANI Mega Sales (KUJMM) MEDC 2024 on February 23-25, 2024 in Simpang Empat, Perlis, Cooperative and Entrepreneur MADANI Sales (JMKU) on March 30, 2024 in Kampung Paya Jaras, Sungai Buloh, Selangor, and the MADANI People's Programme in the Northern Zone at the Sungai Nibong Festival Site, Pulau Pinang, from May 3 to 5, 2024.

These programmes have received very encouraging responses from the local residents, he said adding that in addition to obtaining information about the services provided by the Ministry, visitors were also able to purchase essential goods at affordable prices, which alleviated the burden of rising living costs.

“The Entrepreneur Carnival and MADANI Mega Sales in Perlis recorded sales of RM272,213.86 and attracted 12,332 visitors. The Cooperative and Entrepreneur MADANI Sales in Sungai Buloh recorded sales of RM435,480.00 with 3,629 visitors. Meanwhile, the MADANI People's Program in Pulau Pinang achieved sales of RM307,995.20 and attracted a total of 289,228 visitors,” he stated.

Ewon shared about his participation in the SME Future Day 2024 organised by the German Association for Small and Medium-Sized Business (BVMW) in Berlin, as well as accompany the Prime Minister Datuk Anwar Ibrahim on a working visit to Berlin and Hamburg, Germany in March.

During the visit, they attended meetings with industry players in Germany including Siemens Energy, Infeneon Technologies, Airbus Group, and Nexperia. The outcomes of these sessions included potential investments and collaborations in the fields of economy, education, and technology transfer, with opportunities for Malaysian SMEs to participate in global supply chains.

From April 28 to 30, 2024, Ewon led the Malaysian delegation to the 11th Asia Pacific Cooperative Ministers' Conference. During the conference, he delivered a Ministerial Statement in Session 3 focusing on the theme "Adapting to Changing Environment and Building Resiliency."

Topics discussed included the landscape and achievements of the national cooperative movement, which has a history of over 100 years, as well as current policies such as the Malaysia Cooperative Policy 2030 (DaKoM2030). DaKoM2030 outlines the direction of the national cooperative movement, with targets set to achieve RM60 billion in revenue by 2025 and RM73 billion by 2030.

Ewon had highlighted the direction of MEDC in empowering technology-based businesses through the launch of the Digitalization Action Plan for Cooperatives (DigiKOP) 2030. He emphasized the significance of transitioning from conventional methods to technology adoption and digitalization in providing products and services, particularly in light of the global COVID-19 pandemic. He also shared aboutthe successes and accomplishments of the Malaysian cooperative movement both nationally and internationally.

“Malaysia was also involved in the Joint Declaration of the cooperative movements of Asia Pacific countries during the closing session. The declaration emphasized the role of cooperatives in promoting inclusive development to ensure the needs of marginalized groups, women, youth, and indigenous communities are met based on the initiatives outlined in the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).”

On May 6, 2024, the Ministry presented a paper on Empowering Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises (SMEs) to the National Economic Action Council (MTEN) chaired by the Right Honorable Prime Minister. The proposed interventions aim to enhance the scale and competitiveness of SMEs.

Touching on the theme for Workers' Day 2024, "Nation-Building Workers," aligns with the government's initiative to cultivate individuals with shared culture, values, and aspirations who are competent in innovation and exploring new fields, he said adding that these factors will determine the competitiveness and future prosperity of the nation.