KUSKOP Begins MSME Stakeholder Engagement, Focuses On Industry Challenges

PUTRAJAYA, Jan 7 (Bernama) -- Entrepreneur and Cooperatives Development Minister Steven Sim today began the first series of engagement sessions for 2026 with industry players and stakeholders in the micro, small and medium enterprise (MSME) sector.

The session was attended by leaders from seven key business associations, namely the Federation of Malaysian Manufacturing, the Federation of Malaysian Business Associations, the Malaysia Shopping Mall Association, the Malaysia Retail Chain Association, the Malaysian Interior Industry Partners Association, the Malaysian Booksellers Association, and the SME Association of Malaysia.

The Ministry of Entrepreneur and Cooperatives Development (KUSKOP) said in a statement today the leaders of the business associations welcomed Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s announcement last Monday on the RM80 billion initiative to empower local MSMEs.

“The meeting also discussed the challenges facing Malaysia’s business community, including access to capital, bureaucracy, and the need for a more conducive economic ecosystem.

“The minister emphasised that all concerns and challenges raised are in line with the ‘ABCD Strategy’ he introduced, which encompasses accelerating productivity, reducing bureaucracy, improving access to capital and developing market access,” said KUSKOP.

Sim yesterday said the initiative, valued at nearly RM80 billion, provides a boost to the MSME sector, particularly by enhancing cash flow liquidity and ensuring business continuity.

--BERNAMA