GOVERNMENT AID HELPS AGRO-BASED ENTREPRENEURS BECOME MILLIONAIRES

TANGKAK: About 20 small-scale entrepreneurs in the state's agro-based industries have become millionaires after starting out with financial aid.

Mentri Besar Datuk Abdul Ghani Othman, who disclosed this, said the entrepreneurs were among 2,686 who had received financial aid totalling RM10.6mil since 1994.

Speaking at the launching of the state's entrepreneur promotion programme in Serom Tiga yesterday, he said their total earnings had also reached RM60mil a year.

“We are proud to have so many committed small-scale entrepreneurs who are willing to venture into the agro-based sector.

“Many have succeeded and have also managed to market their products internationally,” he said.

Abdul Ghani, who was accompanied by Johor Entrepreneur and Cooperative Development Committee chairman Datuk Maulizan Bujang, said the satay served by Malaysia Airlines was a product of Batu Pahat.

He said he had visited most of the cottage industries run by the entrepreneurs and was happy to see that the financial aid given by the Government had been put to good use.

The Mentri Besar also said that some entrepreneurs sold products such as cookies and crackers in bulk to traders from other states who then packaged and retailed it.

“Many tidbits, cookies and crackers sold in Malacca are made in Johor.

I have asked the entrepreneurs to pack, label and sell the products themselves,” Abdul Ghani pointed out.

He also advised villagers with land to adopt integrated farming methods to raise their income further.

The State Agriculture Department also presented machinery and financial aid to more than 80 entrepreneurs in the Ledang division.

SOURCE: THE STAR, FEBRUARY 16, 2013