KOTA BELUD: The implementation of the Inclusive Business Development Programme in Kampung Podos is expected to increase residents’ income and strengthen the rural community economy, said Deputy Chief Minister III and Sabah Minister of Industrial Development, Entrepreneurship and Cooperatives, Datuk Ewon Benedick.
He said the programme enables villagers to participate fully in the value chain, from raw material production to the development of quality end products with market potential not only in Sabah but beyond the state.
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“I would like to express my appreciation to SME Corp Malaysia, an agency under the Ministry of Entrepreneur Development and Cooperatives (KUSKOP), for selecting Kampung Podos as the location for this programme. It is one of the key initiatives aimed at narrowing the economic gap in rural areas,” he said.
Ewon was speaking to reporters after officiating the launch of the Sabah State Inclusive Business Development Pilot Project in Kampung Podos.
The Kadamaian assemblyman said the selection of Kampung Podos was timely as it provides opportunities for local residents to be directly involved in community-based economic activities through the inclusive business approach.
He added that the project also focuses on empowering women and rural communities who continue to face economic challenges, in line with the national entrepreneurship development agenda under the 13th Malaysia Plan.
The Inclusive Business Development Project in Kampung Podos will be implemented over one year and will involve four phases of guidance, including product development, skills enhancement, business management and marketing.
Ewon said continuous cooperation between state and federal agencies is crucial in developing micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs), particularly in rural areas.
He expressed hope that the project would have a positive impact on rural economic development and contribute to higher income levels among Kampung Podos residents, in line with the state’s development aspirations that prioritise public wellbeing.
