KUCHING, July 29 — Perbadanan Nasional Bhd (Pernas), in collaboration with the Sarawak Ministry of Youth, Sports and Entrepreneur Development, has targeted to provide RM5 million in financing opportunities through the organisation of the Bizfrancais@Sarawak 2023 programme.

Pernas chairman Datuk Hazimah Zainuddin said Sarawak would be the second from a series of six-state tour programmes aimed at expanding opportunities for entrepreneurs and growing the franchise industry in the respective states.

"Pernas is targeting 156 applications with RM26.67 million in funding potential for the programmes in all six states, namely, Sarawak, Penang, Perak, Sabah, Johor and Pahang,” he told a press conference after the Bizfrancais@Sarawak 2023’s opening ceremony here, today.

Hazimah said the programme in Sarawak, involving 29 franchise company exhibitors from outside and within the state, had attracted 600 visitors who attended the roadshow to obtain information from Pernas.

He said Pernas had provided financing totalling RM19 million to 65 companies in Sarawak since 2010.

Hazimah added that Pernas also targeted 10 registrations for its Business in Transformation (Bit) programme through BizFrancais@Sarawak, which offers small and medium enterprises opportunities to become franchise businesses.

Meanwhile, state Deputy Youth, Sports and Entrepreneur Development Minister Dr Ripin Lamat said Sarawakiens should grasp the opportunities from Pernas to venture into the franchise industry and, subsequently, help stimulate Malaysia’s economy.

"We want as many applications (from businesses) to be involved in franchising as possible because we want to activate this type of business activity. Additionally, the more franchises grow in the state, the more job opportunities in an area,” he said.

During the ceremony, Pernas presented replicated financing cheques and certificates of appreciation to members of the Xcelerator project, which was established to guide and mentor entrepreneurs with potential towards franchising and obtaining a franchise licence.

It also handed over essential goods to the asnaf community in conjunction with the Pernas Prihatin social responsibility programme, which benefitted 200 asnaf recipients in Sarawak in collaboration with the Tabung Baitulmal Sarawak. — Bernama