KOTA KINABALU: The Sabah government introduced a special entrepreneurship development fund amounting to RM1mil and expanded the implementation of the SME-Up 2026 Programme as part of efforts to empower micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in the state.
Deputy Chief Minister III and state Minister of Industrial Development, Entrepreneurship and Transportation, Datuk Ewon Benedick, said the initiative aims to help entrepreneurs improve production capacity, product quality, and expand markets to higher levels.
“The Chief Minister has approved a Special Fund for Sabah MSMEs starting with RM1mil as an initiative to assist entrepreneurs facing current challenges,” he said at the Sabah MSME Entrepreneur Carnival 2026 Tenom Zone on Saturday (May 2).
Benedick said the special fund’s scope has been expanded this year to include cooperatives as beneficiaries, in addition to entrepreneurs and entrepreneurship associations.
“Among the areas of assistance are start-up capital financing, product quality improvement, marketing, purchase of machinery and equipment, as well as human capital development,” he said, adding that the assistance is subject to approval by the committee with a maximum limit of RM20,000 per application.
In addition, he said the SME-Up 2026 Program will be expanded to several districts across Sabah to increase participation of local entrepreneurs with outreach programmes in Kota Kinabalu, Tawau, Tenom, Keningau, Membakut, Putatan, Kota Marudu and Kadamaian.
According to him, the program provides assistance in the form of machinery and equipment, retort machines, trademark registration, and halal certification to help entrepreneurs enhance product competitiveness.
“As of 2025, a total of 5,879 entrepreneurs have received machinery and equipment assistance under this program,” he said at the carnival being held over three days.
He said the carnival is a state government initiative to help entrepreneurs promote and sell their products more widely.
