KEDA Channels RM20.11 Million in Grants to 1,172 Rural Entrepreneurs

ALOR SETAR, Sept 29 – A total of 1,172 entrepreneurs in Kedah received RM20.11 million in grant assistance distributed by the Kedah Regional Development Authority (KEDA) between 2023 and 2025.

KEDA Chairman Datuk Seri Mahdzir Khalid stated that the financial support was designed to empower local business owners, particularly those operating within rural areas, to scale their operations and strengthen their core business foundations.

“This assistance is aimed at enhancing entrepreneurs’ capabilities and strengthening the foundations of their businesses,” Mahdzir said during his address at the KEDA Entrepreneur Appreciation Ceremony on Monday night.

To sustain this growth trajectory, KEDA allocated an additional RM6.87 million for 2026 to fund comprehensive entrepreneurship development initiatives. The program covers skills training, business mentoring, product labeling, promotional campaigns, machinery and equipment assistance, and participation in trade expos.

Mahdzir highlighted KEDA’s ongoing efforts to build a supportive business ecosystem by providing physical infrastructure. The agency has made 528 commercial premises available for rent across Kedah, with 466 units currently occupied.

The available premises include:

• Shops and Stalls: 223 units
• SME Workshops: 148 units
• Commercial Premises & Industrial Lots: 1 commercial premise and 7 industrial land lots
• Subsidiary-Managed Premises: 149 SME premises and shops overseen by KEDA subsidiaries

In his concluding remarks, Mahdzir urged rural entrepreneurs to adopt modern business strategies and expand beyond local brick-and-mortar operations by leveraging e-commerce and digital marketing.

“Entrepreneurs need to leverage digital marketing techniques to expand their market reach at a lower cost,” he said, encouraging small business owners to actively utilize social media platforms like TikTok, Instagram, and Facebook, alongside e-commerce channels such as Shopee and Lazada.

–NMT