THE Jana Graduan Hijau (Jaguh) initiative, aimed at providing opportunities for graduates to get involved in green entrepreneurship, will be launched in January 2021, according to Environment and Water Minister Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man.

He said Jaguh is in the process of module development, as well as identifying strategic partners and applying for government and private funds, before the programme to be actively promoted early next year.

“The first group of this programme involves three streams, namely, Jaguh energy management, Jaguh green products and Jaguh urban agriculture. For a start 100 graduates will be involved,” he said in a question-and-answer session in Parliament today, to a question from Shaharizukirnain Abd Kadir (PAS-Setiu) who wanted details of the programme.

Tuan Ibrahim said, for a start, Jaguh targeted unemployed graduates of six months or more and graduates in jobs not matching their qualifications.

Currently, Jaguh has had to postpone discussions with Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) due to the Covid-19 outbreak, he said.

Jaguh is an initiative implemented by the Malaysian Green Technology and Climate Change Centre, a Ministry of Environment and Water agency.

The main objective of this programme is to help young graduates be more independent in generating income through entrepreneurial skills in green industries, in line with the government’s efforts to expand the country’s green economy.

Tuan Ibrahim said skills that had been identified include energy audit services, energy management consultation, green lifestyles and recycling services.

The list will be expanded based on to the suitability of market demand as well as meet the targets of the Green Technology Master Plan, he said. – Bernama, November 30, 2020.