ENTREPRENEUR Development and Cooperatives Minister Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar advised entrepreneurs involved in the wedding planning industry to expand the scope of their business based on the new norms.

He said this in response to a question by Sibuti Member of Parliament Lukanisman Awang Sauni in the Dewan Rakyat on November 17 on measures taken by the ministry to help entrepreneurs involved in the wedding planning industry who are hit by the Covid-19 pandemic.

“For example, entrepreneurs involved in food preparation or catering, can use the food rider platforms such as Grab, Food Panda, and so on.

“They can also venture into a business (related to) their existing expertise and creativity. If they have expertise in wedding planning, they can apply the concept by handling small-scale events and not focus only on weddings,” he added.

Wan Junaidi said entrepreneurs are advised to adapt their business to the new norms, empower their business through digitalisation and intensify their promotional strategies.

They should arm themselves with knowledge on news way of doing business, he added.

Tekun Nasional (Tekun) has provided financing amounting to RM557.3 million for 49,901 entrepreneurs nationwide as of October this year, Wan Junaidi said.

He said agencies under the ministry, such as Tekun, provide financing of RM1,000 to RM100,000 for all business sectors.

“The ministry, through the National Entrepreneurship Institute (Insken), has also conducted special programmes for entrepreneurs involved in the wedding planning industry, since 2017.

“A total of 120 entrepreneurs have been assisted to ensure continuity of their business,” he said in a statement today.

He said Insken, as an entrepreneurship training centre, has also provided various training, coaching, and mentoring sessions to entrepreneurs, such as through the Insken Business Coaching Wedding Planner and the Insken Business Training, which involved the participation of 4,759 entrepreneurs until mid-October this year. – Bernama, November 19, 2020.