News From : DagangHalal.com (21 Jun 2010)
KUALA LUMPUR, June 21 (Bernama) — The government aims to increase the number of Bumiputera exporters in the manufacturing sector to 1,000 by 2015 under the Master Plan for Bumiputera Development in the manufacturing sector.
The Ministry of International Trade and Industry (MITI) says the government recognises the potential of the halal industry and the opportunities for local entrepreneurs in the fast growing halal global market.
It said entrepreneurial development programmes in the production of halal products and related services will be emphasised in a coordinated approach with the placement of the Halal Industry Development Corporation (HDC) under MITI.
The plan, which is set to be launched this year, will provide the strategic direction for entrepreneurs to capitalise on the opportunities available in the domestic and global markets, the ministry says in International Trade and Industry Report 2009.
The plan also aims to increase Bumiputera companies’ cumulative investment of RM25 billion in the manufacturing sector, the integration of 3,000 Bumiputera companies into the domestic supply chain and raise the number of Bumiputera companies taking advantage of the supply and product marketing technology to 1,500.
“The Government will continue current collaboration programmes with other government-linked-companies and multinational corporations,” the ministry says.
Meanwhile, MITI said the Government is planning to formulate a Master Plan for Entrepreneurship Development to provide policy and strategic direction for entrepreneur development in Malaysia.
On allocation of Bumiputera special shares, a total of 1.2 billion shares valued at RM4.5 billion, were distributed to Bumiputera investors out of 1.6 billion shares available for allocation, representing 75.9 per cent in 2009.
MITI says the percentage of shares distributed decreased in 2009 but the value of shares increased 53 per cent.
“A total of 655 million shares (87.2 per cent) out of 751 million, with a value of RM716.6 million, were allocated to Bumiputeras in 2008,” the ministry says.
It says the allocation of Bumiputera special shares received lukewarm response from Bumiputera investors in 2009, compared with 2008, due to the impact of the global economic slowdown on the stock market, expectation of low prices of shares upon listing and the offer price being higher than the market price for the special Bumiputera share issues.
The highest number of subscribers were in the telecommunication, plantation and properties sectors, MITI says.
— BERNAMA