ISKANDAR PUTERI: The state government, through the Johor Entrepreneur Corporation (PUJB), has carried out various initiatives that have benefited entrepreneurs hit by the Covid-19 pandemic.
Johor investment, cooperatives, entrepreneurship development and human resource committee chairman Datuk Mohd Izhar Ahmad said as the main implementing agency, PUJB had taken proactive and holistic measures to help entrepreneurs in the state.
“This is seen in giving aid, training and guidance to micro-entrepreneurs and small-medium enterprises (SMEs) here.
“PUJB’s actions have helped local entrepreneurs remain resilient and competitive in facing challenges of the new norms in the business sector, ” he added.
Mohd Izhar said this in his reply to Aminolhuda Hassan (PH-Parit Yaani), who asked what role PUJB played in helping SMEs cope with business downturn due to Covid-19 during the state assembly sitting here.
He said among the initiatives were the E-Bazar Ramadan programme, which was a marketing digital platform for bazaar traders that was carried out throughout the fasting month earlier this year.
Mohd Izhar said the E-Bazar Makmur Johor benefited some 653 traders with a total of RM107,344 sales from 6,894 transactions.
He said PUJB also held a programme dubbed Geran Orang Lokal 2.0, which provided aid in the form of machinery and tools worth RM6,000 to six business clusters, namely automotive, printing, sowing, education, spa and beauty, and hair cut.
A total of 162 applicants have been successful and received the aid on Oct 17.
“We also provided a one-off cash grant worth RM3,000 to food truck entrepreneurs affected by the pandemic. A total of 178 applicants benefited from this aid, ” he said.
PUJB also organised various courses virtually to guide and provide training to entrepreneurs through its PUJB@Biztalk programme, he added.
Mohd Izhar said Johor would soon have its data centre and a digital entrepreneurship app in its effort to support digital transformation. He added the Johor Entrepreneurs Digital Centre would be a one-stop centre providing a reference on all products and entrepreneurs in the state.
“This centre will serve more than 100,000 entrepreneurs in Johor when it is launched next year, ” he said.
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