Thirty participants from underserved communities have graduated from the Credit Guarantee Corporation (M) Bhd (CGC)’s CGC100 Youth Entrepreneurship Program – General Track.
This will be the first batch of graduates from diverse backgrounds and entrepreneurial paths in the program, a collaboration between the Department of Education and the Pinter Foundation.
The program aims to equip young people with entrepreneurship and soft skills, focusing on upskilling, reskilling and cross-skilling through a 12-month intensive course.
The program also includes shared sessions from top industry experts.
CGC Chairman Datuk Mohamed Hussein said at the launch of the graduation ceremony: “CGC is committed to building an ecosystem for MSMEs to thrive and prosper, because our ultimate goal is to support them. It’s about watching people grow into successful entrepreneurs.”
He said the COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent recovery period provided unforgettable lessons about business realities.
“Economic downturn is inevitable. It can affect everyone at the same time, including our interdependent supply chains,” he added.
“The business environment and operating conditions will change. Business skills and leadership are essential to cope with this – to recover, rebuild and reinvent businesses and meet the challenges posed by the changing business environment. is.”
CGC president and chief executive officer Datuk Mohd Zamri Mohd Ishak said in his speech:
“It is designed to provide participants with the tools and knowledge necessary to succeed in the ever-evolving landscape of entrepreneurship.”
Darlene Cheng Kee Lee, 21, who runs a restaurant business in Kuala Lumpur, credited the program with improving her business skills.
“The program offered insightful classes on financial management, marketing, digital dependencies, and business propositions.
“Meeting different people from different backgrounds has also improved my business connections,” she said.
Nurul Ain Akila Hamza, 22, from Johor, said she not only learned about marketing and branding, but also how to write a business plan.
“After each module, I applied what I learned to my business. I increased my sales by 68% in two months.”
For Nickrayco Kundi @Jusly, 21, from Sabah, the program provided business understanding that he can apply to his vehicle service workshop.
“Interpersonal skills, personal branding and ESG (environmental, social and governance) principles are some aspects that can help improve business operations and growth,” he said.
The event concluded with the launch of the second group of CGC100, the Fast Track Program. The program is his six-month intensive course dedicated to instilling skills and knowledge in candidates with minimal knowledge of entrepreneurship.
Twenty participants took part in the program, which began with a session on ‘Core Values and Work Ethic’ by Mr. Mohammed.
The ceremony was also attended by Ms. Fakhriya El-Emin Muhardi, Chief Assistant of the Ministry’s Vocational and Technical Education and Training Department, and Ms. Norzalina Masoum, General Manager of the Pintar Foundation.
