SERI ISKANDAR: The Northern Corridor Implementation Authority (NCIA) has targeted two hundred micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) from four states in the northern region to participate in the NCER Entrepreneur Sustainable Transformation (NEST) programme to help them expand and penetrate new markets.
The NCER is the Northern Corridor Economic Region.
Chief executive of NCIA Mohamad Haris Kader Sultan said through the NEST programme, potential MSMEs would be assisted in transforming their business, including the provision of training and consultation.
“Two hundred MSMEs from Penang, Kedah, Perlis and Perak from whatever business background would be selected and assisted to increase their business ability,“ he told the media on the sidelines of the Malaysia SDGs Summit 2023 Northern Region today.
Deputy Economy Minister Datuk Hanifah Hajar Taib officiated the summit.
Mohamad Haris said NEST is a programme that assists MSMEs to improve and empower sustainable and competitive businesses including penetrating business abroad.
It also supports the need and ecosystem of industrial growth and high-impact strategic projects in the NCER region.
Hanifah Hajar also witnessed the signing of a memorandum of cooperation between NCIA and E-Idaman. NCIA was represented by Mohamad Haris and E-Idaman by chief executive officer Zaki Abdul Aziz M. H. Daud.
The memorandum focused on the development of a circular economy, in line with the objectives of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) agenda. E-Idaman would be NCIA’s strategic partner, encompassing the implementation of programmes such as NCIA Go Green and collaboration for the SDG agenda.
The handing over of the letters of intent (LOI) by Mohamad Haris to Agrocloud and KDDI under the NCER’s AgriBio Economic Zone (NAEZ) was also held.
Agrocloud is collaborating with KDDI as a project partner, which plays an important role in using its expertise to monitor projects and give professional insights as well as using custom-designed software solutions as needed.
Hanifah Hajar also witnessed the handing over of an LOI between NCIA’s Mohamad Haris to UTP Vice-Chancellor Prof. Datuk Dr Mohamed Ibrahim Abdul Mutalib for cooperation in the development of paddy-related technology in the Pendang Paddy Estate Management Model Programme (EMM) 2.0.–Bernama
