The Ministry of International Trade and Industry (Miti) wants to set up a comprehensive data base on bumiputera entrepreneurs, its minister said today.

Mustapa Mohamed said the accurate and comprehensive data would be used for planning purposes and policy drafting towards the future development of bumiputera entrepreneurs.

NONE The minister said this in his speech at the closing of a Johor state level programme for bumiputera entrepreneurs jointly organised by Miti and the Malay Chamber of Commerce Malaysia Johor branch in Johor Bahru today.

Miti's advisor Abdul Hadi Othman read the speech on behalf of the minister.

Mustapa said his ministry was tidying up the data management system to help with the collection, analysis and usage of the data for planning and development policies as well as for decision making.

He said the government very strongly needed a society of competitive bumiputera entrepreneurs.

Compete on their merits

Such a society that is commercial and dynamic and in large numbers would be able to penetrate the global market, he said.

Bumiputera entrepreneurs would need to have a high level of resilience, be independent and stand on their own without the help of the government, Mustapa said.

They would need to compete in the market on their merits, capabilities and capacities without dependence on any special status or privilege.

He said he also wanted to see bumiputera entrepreneurs to continue to grow by taking new, potential opportunities in the country's economic growth especially in the industrial, commercial and services sectors.

They should also pay enough attention to research and development to make it easier to move into higher value added activities.

This is important so that bumiputera entrepreneurs have an edge over their competitors in terms of quality, innovativeness and added attraction in their products and services, he added.

- Bernama