PM Anwar Officiates SParK 2026, PUNB Targets RM2.25 Bln In Financing Approval For 2026-2030
By Nurul Hanis Izmir
PUTRAJAYA, July 4 (Bernama) — Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim today officiated the launch of SParK 2026: Business Transformation, the flagship platform of Perbadanan Usahawan Nasional Bhd (PUNB).
The agency has announced a financing approval target of up to RM2.25 billion to strengthen the development of bumiputera entrepreneurs for 2026–2030.
The target, under the R30 Strategic Framework, is to accelerate the growth of bumiputera companies, enhance their commercial scalability, create quality employment opportunities, and strengthen the country's key supply chains.
Anwar said the national agency, established to develop bumiputera entrepreneurs, has performed well thus far.
"If it continues to perform well, we will increase the allocation (from the Finance Ministry),” Anwar told the media here today when asked about the RM2.25 billion target and his hopes for bumiputera entrepreneurs.
"PUNB is currently one of the agencies implementing the government's agenda by focusing on the priorities we have outlined, while also working closely with all relevant agencies," he said.
PUNB also announced the reduction of the financing rate for PROSPER GROW to as low as 3.5 per cent per annum at the same event.
It also introduced three programmes — PROSPER GROW BIZ EXPRESS, PROSPER GROW FUEL UP, and PROSPER GROW AUTO BIZ — to improve financing access and strengthen entrepreneurs' working capital.
The financing target will be achieved through PUNB's existing financing facilities, which include PROSPER GROW, PROSPER GREAT, and PROSPER IMPACT/NOVA, alongside enhancements to programmes that are more targeted to meet entrepreneurs’ needs.
Held ahead of PUNB's 35th anniversary, SParK 2026 brings together PUNB Entrepreneur Partners, bumiputera entrepreneurs, corporate leaders, industry players, digital ecosystem participants, development agencies, and strategic partners through conferences, knowledge-sharing sessions, business exhibitions, and sales activities.
The two-day programme provides a platform for entrepreneurs to gain industry insights, build strategic networks, showcase their products, and explore new opportunities in an increasingly competitive business ecosystem.
PUNB chairman Tan Sri Rastam Mohd Isa, who was present at the event, said SParK was set up to bring together entrepreneurs with knowledge, markets, networks, and growth opportunities.
"SParK is not just an annual event. It is a transformation platform and reflects PUNB's commitment to developing bumiputera entrepreneurs to be more structured, competitive, and capable of sustaining long-term growth.
"PUNB's priority is to ensure that more bumiputera companies are capable of expanding their businesses, to strengthen corporate governance and grow sustainably in line with the nation's development agenda," he said.
PUNB has supported the development of more than 15,500 Entrepreneur Partners through various financing and business support programmes since it was established in 1991. Its total approved financing has reached RM5.15 billion across a wide range of bumiputera business sectors.
Rastam said the figure represents more than a financial value. It reflects the businesses that have been developed, jobs that have been created, families that have benefited, and bumiputera companies that are increasingly capable of expanding to a more advanced and sustainable level.
He added that PUNB's role has continued to evolve, with its financing and support no longer focused solely on the conventional retail and distribution sectors. Instead, it has expanded to include high-impact sectors and high-value economic activities.
At the same event, PUNB exchanged memoranda of understanding with the Statistics Department Malaysia (DOSM) and the Malaysian Technology Development Corporation (MTDC) to strengthen entrepreneur development through data, technology, and innovation.
The collaboration is expected to enhance PUNB's ability to plan and evaluate entrepreneur development programmes more effectively, while opening up greater opportunities for entrepreneurs in technology, innovation, and commercialisation.
The event also featured the presentation of the SParK 2026 Entrepreneur Awards to five PUNB Entrepreneur Partners in recognition of their achievements, resilience, and business discipline in building sustainable businesses, creating employment opportunities, expanding market reach, and demonstrating strong business leadership.
-- BERNAMA