Kota Kinabalu: Sabah's entrepreneurship development must keep pace with the State's industrial growth to produce more competitive enterprises capable of creating jobs and contributing to the economy, Deputy Chief Minister III Datuk Ewon Benedick said.
Speaking at the launch of Sedco's Rise (Resilient, Innovative Sedco Entrepreneurs) Programme and S-Seed (Strategic Entrepreneur Development Fund) held here, on Friday, Ewon, who is also State Industrial Development, Entrepreneurship and Transport Minister, said Sabah's encouraging economic growth in the services, manufacturing, mining and construction sectors should translate into wider opportunities for the people through entrepreneurship.
He said the implementation of the Sabah Maju Jaya 2.0 roadmap for 2026 to 2030 placed emphasis on improving competitiveness, productivity, sustainable and inclusive economic growth, digitalisation, technology adoption, new economic sectors and human capital development, adding that entrepreneurs must embrace technology, e-commerce, certification and branding to compete in national and international markets.
Ewon welcomed the introduction of the Rise and S-Seed programmes, saying entrepreneurship development should focus not only on producing more business owners but also on building sustainable enterprises with greater productivity and competitiveness, while noting that 54 applicants underwent interviews before 30 participants were selected for the inaugural RISE programme.
He said Rise and S-Seed should function as complementary initiatives within Sabah's entrepreneurship ecosystem by linking training, financing, business facilities, certification, marketing and digitalisation to expand market access, before officially launching both programmes and congratulating SEDCO and the 30 selected participants.
