KPDNKK, Coca-Cola Malaysia aim to train 20,000 micro entrepreneurs by 2020

The Domestic Trade, Cooperatives and Consumerism Ministry (KPDNKK) is collaborating with Coca-Cola Malaysia to produce 20,000 micro entrepreneurs by 2020.

Minister Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainuddin said under the collaboration, Coca-Cola Malaysia would provide a training module under its Coca-Cola Entrepreneur Community (Coca-Cola KU) programme, which covers all aspects on how to start a business, to keep daily records and to manage income and expenses.

He said the modules would also focus on trainings in managing cash and credit flows, quality of service, marketing methods, budget development and business expansion.

The ministry, on the other hand, would provide consultancy on business regulations and micro credit to the entrepreneurs, Hamzah told reporters after launching the Coca-Cola KU programme here.

Also present were his deputy Datuk Henry Sum Agong and Coca-Cola Bottlers (Malaysia) Sdn Bhd chief executive officer Stephen Lusk.

"Through this programme, it is hoped that the objectives to develop the community, increasing the income and creating more job opportunities will be achieved," Hamzah said.

He said the programme would be introduced at 14 public universities with the participation of 1,000 students at each university.

Each participant will be required to undergo a one-day basic course and followed by a three-day advance course according to their qualifications and interests, he said.

In his speech earlier, the minister also called on his officers to convene further discussion with Coca-Cola Malaysia on how the ministry could help these young entrepreneurs to become Coca-Cola vendors when they completed the training.

Meanwhile, Lusk said the Coca-Cola KU project in Malaysia was part of the company's global commitment to recognise the importance of helping to further empower these entrepreneurs so that they could maximise their sources of income.

Without revealing the total investment for the project, he said Coca-Cola had invested RM1 billion in Malaysia since 2010.

-- BERNAMA