afternoon highlight (10/04/12/066/541) Move to increase loan amount in Tukar programme lauded

Move to increase loan amount in Tukar programme lauded

PETALING JAYA: Indian business­­­-men commended the Government’s move to increase the loan amount for those wishing to participate in the Retail Shop Transformation (Tukar) programme.
“We are positive that such a move will enable programme participants to enhance their operations,” said Malaysian Associated Indian Cham­bers of Commerce and Industry (MAICCI) president Datuk K.K. Eswaran yesterday.
Domestic Trade, Cooperatives and Consumerism Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob had announced recently that those who wished to join the Tukar programme could now obtain loans of up to RM80,000 this year, an increase by RM20,000 from the previous amount of RM60,000.
Reports quoted him as saying the Government had increased funding for the programme to RM100mil, after considering complaints from participants of the programme.
“This effort by the Government shows that our Prime Minister is supportive towards the needs of the business community to increase their competitiveness in the current economy,” said Eswaran.
Under the 10-year Tukar programme, which is part of the Economic Trans­formation Prog­ramme, the Government aims to modernise traditional grocers na­­tionwide with the aid of consultants to increase the country’s gross national income and create more jobs.
The Government hopes to upgrade and modernise some 5,000 traditional sundry shops out of the estimated 50,000 nationwide by 2020.
As of Dec 30 last year, 519 shops nationwide, including those in Sabah and Sarawak, have joined the programme.

Source : The Star                 Date : 10 April 2012 

afternoon highlight (10/04/12/066/541)