PUTRAJAYA: Twenty initiatives focussing on five areas have been outlined to further strengthen the country's competitiveness where the focus is on attracting investments, boosting external trade and increasing the use of digital technology.
For this purpose, Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin said to assist small and medium-scale enterprises to obtain loans, Bank Negara had increased the targeted relief and recovery facility with an additional RM2bil and the automated and digitalisation facility by another RM700mil.
Additional funds of RM50mil for smart automation will be available for more mid-tier companies and SMEs to boost their efficiency in operations and manufacturing by putting advanced technology in place.
"The government will also increase its subsidy to RM300 for households with school-going children for the purchase of smartphones and new devices. This will be launched in May and will see allocation be increased to RM2bil," said Muhyiddin when unveiling the People and Economic Strategic Empowerment Programme (Pemerkasa) on Wednesday (March 17).
During the tabling of Budget 2021, the government had announced the Jaringan Prihatin programme to offer RM180 telecommunication credit for the B40 group.
The Prime Minister said the International Trade and Industry Ministry would explore new potential export markets as well as boost automation and mechanisation among industry players as part of initiatives to increase the country's competitiveness.
Among initiatives to be rolled out are eBizLink, a digital marketing platform, and the Globepreneur initiative that is meant to push more SMEs to the international market.
Muhyiddin said to support the country's goal to become a sustainable financial hub, the government would launch Lestari Sukuk worth about US$1bil (RM4.12bil), where earnings from this will be used to among others tackle Covid-19 socio-economic impact.
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