Datuk Wira M. Noor Azman Bin Taib, the Secretary General of the Ministry of Local Government Development (KPKT), had officiated the 2023 Urban Community Economic Empowerment Convention (PEKB), held at the Johor Persada International Convention Centre.
The ceremony was attended by Haji Suhaimi Bin Ali @ Ahmad, Deputy Secretary General (Housing and Community Wellbeing) of KPKT, Dato’ Haji Mohd Noorazam bin Dato’ Haji Osman, Mayor of Johor Bahru, as well as the top management of KPKT and heads’ of state and district level departments.
KPKT organised this convention in partnership with the Johor State Government Secretary’s Office (SUK Johor), the Johor Bahru City Council (MBJB), the Ministry of Entrepreneurship and Cooperative Development (KUSKOP), the Ministry of Digital Communications (KKD), and non-governmental organisations (NGOs).
The PEKB Convention was held to provide additional motivation to PEKB Programme participants to develop capacity and capability in all aspects of business. Through this convention, KPKT took a new approach by applying a model of support initiative elements to entrepreneurial community participants as added value, particularly in terms of product marketing and promotion in line with the online open market.
This convention featured 500 PEKB programme entrepreneurs for the years 2021, 2022, and 2023, as well as 25 booths of PEKB entrepreneurs, government agencies, and NGOs.
A wide range of services and products offered by PEKB entrepreneurs were also showcased, as well as information on business financing assistance. In addition, PEKB entrepreneurs were given business development advice in order to raise the level of independent entrepreneurs and informal entrepreneurs to at least the level of micro, small, and medium enterprises (PMKS).
The convention was a platform for government agencies, non-governmental organisations, and PEKB Programme entrepreneurs who have successfully entered the international market to share information.
A ‘Successful Entrepreneur Icon Award’ presentation session was also held in conjunction with this convention for the five best PEKB entrepreneurs according to the designated categories. The evaluation was based on the business developed, the level of achievement, and the contribution to the community. This acknowledgement of entrepreneurs’ success from “zero to hero” can inspire other entrepreneurs to be more successful and change their lives for the better.
At the same event, four different types of PEKB entrepreneur products were introduced – Maman-based products, Fateen’s Frozen, Inang Sari Dipping Sauce, and Vietnamese-style Pannipuree. These products were created through the participants’ innovation and creativity in order to make a difference in the business world.
KPKT has been implementing the PEKB programme since 2013, and a total of 16,294 PEKB entrepreneurs have been successfully trained as a result of it.
“It is one of the most effective programmes for assisting the government in combating the city’s extreme poverty,” the ministry said in a statement.
Participants of the PEKB Programme will be given entrepreneurship training for seven days aimed at improving the participants’ skills so that they are able to run a business and generate a higher income, thereby improving the quality of life in order to get out of the poverty line.
“In line with the government’s efforts to ensure that no one is marginalised, KPKT, together with NGOs, is optimistic about implementing the PEKB Programme more brilliantly in the future so that more urban community entrepreneurs are born.”
“The PEKB programme is expected to reduce the problem of urban poverty, which is getting worse, and the government’s desire to curb extreme poverty will be successfully achieved,” the statement ended.
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