by NUR HANANI AZMAN / pic by MUHD AMIN NAHARUL

THE RM40 billion Semarak Niaga Keluarga Malaysia programme launched today will increase the business sector’s access to financing, especially for the micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) and the informal sector.

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob (picture) said the programme includes direct loans, financing guarantees and equity injections for the benefit of every group of entrepreneurs.

“For micro and small businesses, the government is aware of their need for access to financing with low interest rates. In this regard, the Informal and Micro Financing Scheme will offer loans of up to RM10,000 at zero interest rate with priority given to informal sector traders. The fund size for this programme alone is RM200 million.

“For agro-food entrepreneurs, the micro credit scheme by Agrobank will offer a loan of up to RM75,000 at zero interest rate for the first six months with a moratorium facility for up to six months,” he said at the opening ceremony today.

The Semarak Niaga Keluarga Malaysia program also includes business financing guarantee. The scheme under Syarikat Jaminan Pembiayaan Perniagaan will be improved by providing guarantees for scheduled and restructured funding with an additional guarantee limit of RM17 billion.

This will help the company obtain new funding that was previously difficult to obtain.