MUDRA Initiative Expected To Benefit 10,000 Indian Entrepreneurs This Year -- MAICCI President

KUALA LUMPUR, May 18 (Bernama) -- The 2026 Indian Entrepreneur Capital and Economic Stimulus Package (MUDRA), with a total financing allocation of RM220 million, is expected to benefit about 10,000 Indian entrepreneurs by the end of this year.

Malaysian Associated Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (MAICCI) president Datuk Seri Gobalakrishnan Narayanasamy said that to date, about 2,000 entrepreneurs have benefited from the initiative, involving RM70 million in approved financing.

He said MAICCI is also organising a nationwide roadshow -- the MAICCI - MUDRA Roadshow 2026 -- to help more small and medium entrepreneurs gain access to the financing facilities provided.

“Through this programme, we aim to assist about 3,000 entrepreneurs in the near term through the series of nine MAICCI workshops and roadshow.

“Entrepreneurs can also directly engage with the participating financing agencies. Overall, we expect around 10,000 entrepreneurs to benefit from the RM220 million allocation by the end of the year,” he told a press conference here today.

The programme, through MUDRA, is a strategic initiative of the Entrepreneur Development and Cooperatives Ministry.

“This programme will serve as an important platform to reach entrepreneurs at the grassroots level, including Indian micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs), youth entrepreneurs, women entrepreneurs, and cooperatives nationwide,” Gobalakrishnan said.

Meanwhile, MAICCI deputy president Datuk Dr AT Kumararajah said the roadshow will facilitate Indian MSME entrepreneurs’ applications to the participating financing agencies.

He said that based on previous experience, participation through programmes organised by the chambers of commerce would increase the likelihood of successful applications compared to entrepreneurs applying individually.

“This is because we have the experience, training, preparation, and ecosystem that can help facilitate their applications,” he added.

On a separate matter, Gobalakrishnan asked the government to look into the issue of foreign worker shortage, particularly in the manufacturing as well as food and beverage sectors, which he said is putting increasing pressure on the business community.

He noted that many businesses are still facing difficulties in obtaining foreign worker quotas although labour demand in several sectors is becoming increasingly critical.

In a separate statement, MAICCI said that as of May 10, 2026, KUSKOP had approved RM70 million in financing for nearly 2,000 Indian entrepreneurs nationwide through the MUDRA initiative.

The amount is part of the overall RM220 million fund allocated by the government to empower Indian entrepreneurs in Malaysia.

Among the agencies and main schemes under MUDRA are TEKUN Nasional, SME Bank, Bank Rakyat, Amanah Ikhtiar Malaysia (AIM), and the Malaysia Cooperative Societies Commission of Malaysia (SKM).

-- BERNAMA