KOTA KINABALU: Oct 24, 2026 — A total of 5,879 entrepreneurs in Sabah have benefited from the SME-UP Assistance Programme implemented by the Ministry of Industrial Development, Entrepreneurship and Transport (MINDET) from 2017 to 2025.
Deputy Chief Minister III Datuk Ewon Benedick said the programme was carried out to help micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) improve production capacity, product quality and business competitiveness.
“This year, we are also for the first time introducing assistance for halal certification and trademark registration under the SME-UP Programme,” he said when appearing as a panellist at the Hebatkan Perniagaan Malaysia (HPM) Townhall Session at Lintasan Deasoka today.
He said the assistance provided covers the acquisition of machinery, equipment, packaging, labelling and retort machines to boost the production capability of local entrepreneurs.
MINDET has also strengthened market access for local products through collaborations with retail chains such as Bataras Supermarket, PETRONAS Mesra outlets and AEON. The collaborations have benefited 630 Sabah entrepreneurs as of last year.
Meanwhile, the state government has approved a special industrial land lease policy to help local companies develop factories at the Kota Kinabalu Industrial Park (KKIP).
To further strengthen the sector, MINDET has submitted proposals for new initiatives to the Sabah Ministry of Finance for consideration in the Sabah Budget 2027.
He expressed hope that the proposals would receive due consideration so that more entrepreneurs could be assisted in scaling up and expanding their businesses to a higher level.
Source: Datuk Ewon Benedict Media
