Create jobs in rural areas, Mustapa urges entreprenuers

Datuk Seri Mustapa Mohamed has urged local entrepreneurs to create more jobs especially in rural areas, saying it would uplift the people's economic well-being.

The International Trade and Industry Minister said entrepreneurs who have graduated from entrepreneurship schemes such as Tunas Usahawan Belia Bumiputera (Tube) under SME Corp should be on the front line in this effort.

He said 935 Tube entrepreneurs have generated sales of RM23.55 million and created 1,513 jobs in the country.

"In our increasingly urbanised nation, less than 30 per cent of the population live in rural areas or villages, complicating efforts to create jobs when the focus is not on rural areas," he said, noting that Tube also has a plan to produce more entrepreneurs in rural areas and town fringes.

He made the remarks when launching the Tube 3.0 programme at the National Service camp in the Ayer Keroh recreational forest here attended by Melaka Chief Minister Datuk Seri Idris Haron and SME Corp Chairman Tan Sri Mohamed Al-Amin Abdul Majid.

At a press conference later, Mustapa said the Tube 3.0 participants are guided for 12 months by mentors who are successful entrepreneurs themselves. - BERNAMA