PUNB allocates more than RM500,000 in funds for digitalisation initiatives in 2022

KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 15 -- Perbadanan Usahawan Nasional Berhad (PUNB) has set aside more than RM500,000 in funds for various digitalisation initiatives next year.

The allocation, comprising matching grants and subsidy programmes, aims to accelerate digital adoption among Rakan Usahawan PUNB with the objective of ensuring Bumiputera entrepreneurs remained resilient and competitive in facing the current economic landscape.

In a statement, chairman Datuk Ahmad Nazlan Idris said among the initiatives being rolled out are Rakan Usahawan PUNB @ 100 Go Digital, jointly organised with the Malaysia Digital Economy Corporation (MDEC).

Under the programme, Rakan Usahawan PUNB will be trained by trainers appointed by MDEC on data analysis and digital marketing. 

PUNB also organised Rakan Usahawan PUNB @ Ecommerce Onboarding programme to assist those keen to conduct e-commerce sales, where subsidies in the form of vouchers and promotional packages are given.

"This incentive has been proven to assist Rakan Usahawan PUNB, who joined this programme in the early phase which, among other things, a total of 6,800 sales valued at RM728,000 were generated through vouchers, while the average sales basket of related Rakan Usahawan PUNB increased by 1.4 times,” he said.

He added that PUNB will also implement financing applications digitally to ease the application process.  

“Currently, PUNB is updating its financing matters, where the application processing period is between 35 and 65 days, but this can be expedited.

"For example, the time period for processing loans below RM200,000 is envisaged to be reduced to two weeks’ time compared to 35 days to assist entrepreneurs to rejuvenate their business expeditiously, thus enhancing their business growth,” he noted.

Ahmad Nazlan said the COVID-19 pandemic has changed the business landscape drastically and Rakan Usahawan PUNB were no exception.

“However, they can still compete if there were smart enough to see the changes as opportunities to grow their businesses especially through technological advancements nowadays," he said.

For this year, PUNB has approved RM189 million financing involving 325 companies.

Up to Oct 31, 2021, a total of RM165.8 million had been allocated to 457 entrepreneurs involving 316 companies.

A total of RM3.5 billion worth of financing had been channelled to 11,564 entrepreneurs from 8,086 companies since its inception.

-- BERNAMA