PONTIAN: The Rural Development Ministry envisions that rural areas can function as centres of sustainable economic growth by 2030, says Datuk Seri Mahdzir Khalid.

       The Rural Development Minister said entrepreneurship could be the main activity of the rural community to ensure that the rural population can also enjoy a comfortable standard of living on par with city folks.

       "Cultivating new norms in the community to prevent the spread of Covid-19 has been a 'push factor' to the use of technology in many things, including in entrepreneurship.

       "Hence, rural entrepreneurs must be equipped and empowered with new knowledge and skills on the use of info-tech and innovation of cyber application to become more competitive," he said at the Rural Entrepreneur Mini Carnival (KUD) @ Pontian at the Pontian Mini Stadium here Thursday (March 3).

       He said that to date, there were more than 64,000 entrepreneurs under the ministry who are running various types of business while there were already entrepreneurs who had penetrated the international market.

       "This is a source of pride for the ministry in producing more Rural to Global entrepreneurs," he said.

       Mahdzir said with the guidance and entrepreneurship empowerment courses implemented by the ministry and its agencies, the entrepreneurs had proven that they could manage their businesses more efficiently, thus elevating the country's economic development.

       "The participation of rural entrepreneurs in such economic activities should be enhanced more comprehensively with the involvement of all stakeholders through a network of strategic cooperation between the ministry and the state government as well as the private sector.

       "The strengthening of entrepreneurial activities in rural areas is also in line with the government's intentions under the Vision for Shared Prosperity 2030 to bridge the income gap between urban and rural populations," he said.

       KUD is a marketing programme under the Ministry that aims to elevate the products and services of rural entrepreneurs through the expansion of market access as well as increased marketing activities.

       Mini KUD@Pontian is among several initiatives under the Rural Development Policy to strengthen the financing system, physical facilities and rural support system.

       Mini KUD@Pontian is targeting 10,000 visitors to attend the carnival site throughout the programme starting Thursday until Saturday (March 5) at the Pontian Mini Stadium. - Bernama