RM3.59 Bln in Aid For 204,000 MSMEs, Cooperatives In First Half Of 2025 - Ewon

KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 17 (Bernama) -- A total of 204,429 micro, small and medium enterprise (MSME) entrepreneurs and cooperatives nationwide received RM3.59 billion in financing assistance in the first six months of this year.

Entrepreneur and Cooperative Development Minister Datuk Ewon Benedick said that during the same period, 28,687 entrepreneurs and cooperatives were also established through targeted assistance and support programmes.

“In addition, 540 small and medium enterprise (SME) entrepreneurs have been mentored to expand their businesses to global markets,” he said in his speech at a gathering with Entrepreneur and Cooperative Development Ministry (KUSKOP) staff and agencies here today.

Also present was Deputy Entrepreneur and Cooperative Development Minister Datuk Seri R. Ramanan.

Entering the final quarter of 2025, Ewon said KUSKOP must remain prepared, stay focused, and improve service delivery efficiency in line with the National Entrepreneurship Policy 2030 (DKN2030), which aims to make Malaysia a premier entrepreneurial nation.

Ewon said in 2024, MSMEs recorded 5.8 per cent growth, contributing RM652.4 billion to the national economy and accounting for 14.3 per cent of total exports.

MSMEs also employed 8.1 million workers, representing 48.7 per cent of the country’s total workforce, he added.

On the 13th Malaysia Plan (13MP), Ewon said KUSKOP will focus on scaling up MSMEs to produce local business entities with creative capacity and the ability to compete in both domestic and global markets.

KUSKOP will also strengthen the third sector by involving social enterprises (SE), inclusive businesses (IB) and cooperatives to ensure it becomes a key driver of inclusive and sustainable social economic growth, he said. 

-- BERNAMA