Tap Entrepreneurial Acumen, Creativity Talents In Younger Set, Says Najib

Source From (Bernama): http://www.bernama.com/bernama/v6/newsbusiness.php?id=674797

Published: on 22 Jun 2012

KUALA LUMPUR, June 21 (Bernama) -- Concerted efforts must be made to tap the entrepreneurial skills and creativity talent in the younger set to realise Malaysia's cherished ambition to emerge as a high income advanced nation, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak said.

He said that in western countries companies like Apple, Microsoft, Dell and Facebook were all founded by the younger generation who had sharp entrepreneurial acumen and creativity talents.

"All of them started with difficulties and shortcomings initially but they have succeeded now. They started at the garage but now they owned companies worth millions of dollars," he said when addressing the Bumiputera Technology Entrepreneurs' Dialogue at the Telekom Malaysia Convention Centre Thursday.

Najib said the information and communications technology sector and creativity played a crucial role in creating new wealth resources for the nation.

He said Malaysians were very fortunate as the country has strong fundamentals in the ICT field and creative media.

The Government has established incubators and ICT hubs at various places country-wide, he said.

"The Government has also allocated various grants and offered incentive schemes. The Government has entrusted many agencies to help entrepreneurs to develop on whatever new ideas and attractive products that can generate income to the people," he said.

In efforts to attain the Bumiputera equity as targeted by the government, the Prime Minister said Bumiputera companies must identify talents, uniqueness and individual strength and pool them to form a powerful entity.

He said keen competition in the current globalisation era warranted changes in the government's role and functions to be that of a facilitator to create a favourable environment for entrepreneurs' success.

Najib said the Government would reduce its direct involvement in business but would nevertheless continue to support Bumiputera entrepreneurs to ensure that they succeeded at every level.

"The Government's role is to ensure adequate access and elimination of obstacles to creativity and good ideas," he added.

Earlier, Najib opened the convention centre.

The dialogue is hosted by the Malaysia Association of Bumiputera ICT Industry and Entrepreneurs.

-- BERNAMA