Up to RM2 million financial assistance for winning entry
The Ministry of Rural and Regional Development (KKLW) has launched the Rural Business Challenge which is a competition that aims to motivate Malaysian youth to develop businesses in rural areas. The programme is a collaborative effort with the Performance Management and Delivery Unit (PEMANDU) and comes under the Government Transformation Programme's (GTP) Improving Rural Development National Key Results Area (NKRA).
Open to Malaysian youths aged 18 - 40; the purpose of the competition is to provide an opportunity for the youths to develop a business plan that will create new employment opportunities and increase the income for villagers within the rural areas. The proposed business plan will be required to address one of four categories, i.e. Agriculture, Services, Manufacturing and Rural Tourism.
The competition is part of the Rural Development NKRA's 21st Century Village initiative that focuses on the Government's long-term plan to reverse the rural urban migration trend.
Yang Berbahagia Dato' Ibrahim bin Muhamad, Secretary General of the Ministry of Rural and Regional Development said: "The competition is part of the strategy to develop a comprehensive policy that will encourage young people to return to villages, find gainful employment and realistic businesses opportunities. Under the 21st Century Village concept, we aim to improve infrastructure in villages, create a conducive, empowering environment and provide access to equal employment opportunities for rural people.
In the long run, we want to reverse the trend of the young generation in villages going to cities to look for jobs and eradicate poverty in rural areas."
The competition is based on the following criteria which applicants are required to meet:
- The business must operate on land located in rural areas of Malaysia.
- Individuals, groups, enterprises and private companies are invited to participate.
- The business must employ only Malaysians from villages in the vicinity of rural areas and demonstrate a capacity to enhance the local economy.
Those interested can get application forms from http://www.rurallink.gov.my/rbc and submit their application at:
Ministry of Rural and Regional Development Level 19
No 47, Persiaran Perdana,
Presint 4 Federal Government Administrative Centre
The closing date for entries submission is August 3rd, 2012.
Winners will be provided with financial assistance between RM500,000 and RM2,000,000 to implement their business plan.
Dato' Ibrahim added that this competition provides a unique opportunity for young people to engage as active partners in the Government's efforts to develop entrepreneurialism with sustainable rural employment opportunities. In turn, this will increase the wealth creating capacity of our villages which will eventually bring benefit to all.