KUALA LUMPUR: Aeon Co (M) Bhd and the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) are collaborating to assist 100 micro entrepreneurs under the Pupuk@Aeon 2021 programme.
Aeon managing director and chief executive officer Shafie Shamsuddin (pic) said the programme, which will run until the end of the year, is free of charge and open to all micro enterprises.
“It’s open to anyone that is passionate about business and has the drive to succeed,” he said during a virtual briefing yesterday.
“We are starting with 100 micro entrepreneurs, but we are hoping to extend the programme and attract more participants, eventually.”
Under the programme, Shafie said Aeon will assist micro entrepreneurs to obtain the requisite certifications needed to kick-start their business.
“We have our own division that focuses on obtaining these certifications. Basically, we are going to hold their (the micro entrepreneurs’) hands in this process.”
Shafie added that Aeon will also provide both the online and offline platforms needed for the micro entrepreneurs to sell their products.
“We have over 50 stores that they can reach out to. We also have an online platform for the micro entrepreneurs to leverage upon.”
Additionally, Shafie said Aeon will be providing logistics support for the micro entrepreneurs.
“As you can imagine, it will be very difficult for them to handle the logistics, so they can leverage on our capabilities to handle that.
“Under the programme, they don’t have to deliver to all of our 55 locations. They can just send their products to one location and we will then help them distribute to the whole of Malaysia.”
Shafie said the assistance given to the companies would be worth potentially up to RM50,000 per entrepreneur.
“This is the value of assistance that we will give them, so they don’t have to incur their own cost,” he said.
Meanwhile, MCMC chairman Dr Fadhlullah Suhaimi Abdul Malek said it will be offering touch points for the micro entrepreneurs to reach out to.
“These touchpoints will be at our Internet community centres. We are also providing training together with Aeon to help those micro entrepreneurs who may need added skills.
“We will also provide connectivity assistance, should any of the companies find their home connectivity inadequate for their needs.”
Fadhlullah emphasised that having financial assistance alone wasn’t enough to run a successful business.
“Training is key. Also, if demand is high, does that entrepreneur have the capacity to produce at a higher level?
“This is where micro entrepreneurs need a lot of help, so we assist them not only to create high demand, but to meet that demand. I think if they can secure both of this, then the world is their oyster.”
Pupuk, or the Small Entrepreneur Digitisation Empowerment Programme, was launched by Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin recently.
The programme is a digitisation initiative under the National People’s Wellbeing and Economic Recovery Package, involving an allocation of RM200mil for micro, small and medium enterprises and RM100mil for small and medium enterprises.
According to reports, a total of 1,000 micro entrepreneurs have been targeted to participate in the Pupuk programme by December this year.
The programme targets to benefit 800,000 micro entrepreneurs by 2025.