KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 21 — SME Bank Asnaf Entrepreneurship Programme (Ishraf 2.0) has successfully achieved cumulative sales of RM3.6 million through 79 participants as of the third quarter of 2022.
Minister of Entrepreneur Development and Cooperatives Datuk Ewon Benedick said SME Bank has allocated a Zakat fund of RM600,000 for the programme while strategic partners, Yayasan Pembangunan Ekonomi Ekonomi Malaysia (YaPEIM) and SME Corporation Malaysia (SME Corp), have each allocated funds amounting RM284,400 and RM190,000 respectively.
He said the addition of funds allowed the programme to benefit more Asnaf entrepreneurs in six states namely Perlis, Kedah, Negeri Sembilan, Melaka, Sabah and Kuala Lumpur compared to the Ishraf 1.0 edition.
SME Bank group president/chief executive officer Datuk Wira Aria Putera Ismail said the five best Ishraf 2.0 programme participants have recorded an average sale of RM22,000 per month.
He said overall participants’ sales have increased with an average sale of RM5,100 per month since joining the Ishraf 2.0 program, up from RM3,300 per month previously.
The Ishraf 2.0 programme, which began in November 2021, is a continuation of Ishraf 1.0 that aimed to improve the living conditions of Asnaf and microentrepreneurs affected by the Covid-19 pandemic.
Among the topics covered by the participants were the preparation of business plans and models, digital marketing and financial management. — Bernama
