Deputy prime minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said Mara will introduce a Gate to Global programme to help entrepreneurs market their products abroad using a single brand recognised by Mara.

“I have requested the Mara chairman to promote these products under a single brand. Let these products be produced on an OEM (original equipment manufacturer) basis with one brand so that the global market sees the products as being from Malaysia,” he said.

Zahid, who is also the minister for rural and regional development, said the government has allocated RM52 billion next year to empower the entrepreneurship sector, with the participation of 17 ministries. Mara will receive RM4 billion in the 2026 federal budget.

Speaking at a Mara empowerment programme for women held here, he said the focus was on women entrepreneurs because they had proven to be highly disciplined in managing businesses and in repaying loans.

“Women can be trusted (to repay loans) more than men,” he said. “Amanah Ikhtiar Malaysia records show that the rate of non-performing loans by women is very low, just 0.25 %.”

Zahid said the Bumiputera sector can no longer rely solely on grants to succeed, but must do so through loans and continued guidance so that their businesses can grow more sustainably.

He said the government is working to move at least 5% of micro entrepreneurs to the small enterprises category every year, while 5% of small entrepreneurs must get to the medium level and subsequently be listed on Bursa Malaysia.

He also encouraged Bumiputera entrepreneurs to focus on the high-value sector, including global halal products, a market expected to reach US$5 trillion in value by 2030.