YOUNG aspiring entrepreneurs in Seri Delima are being given an opportunity to take their first steps into the world of business through the Jom Berniaga – Youth Market Programme, a pilot initiative aimed at nurturing entrepreneurial talent among the younger generation.
Seri Delima assemblyman Connie Tan Hooi Peng said the programme, held for the first time in the constituency at Taman Kejiranan Karpal Singh today, provided a platform for young people to explore their business ideas without having to worry about rental or stall charges.
She said the inaugural edition featured more than 25 stalls, with the majority of participants being young entrepreneurs, many of whom were venturing into business for the first time.
The stalls offered a variety of products, including food, beverages, handicrafts, books and other items, showcasing the creativity and entrepreneurial spirit of the participants.
“Through this programme, we want to provide young people with a platform and space to conduct business without any charges.
“Our aim is to encourage them to venture into entrepreneurship and give them an opportunity to experience what it is like to run a business,” she said in her speech before officiating the programme today.
Tan also revealed that the youngest entrepreneur participating in the programme was just 19 years old.
She said the initiative was particularly meaningful as many young people might have business ideas but lacked the confidence, knowledge or financial resources to take their first steps.
“Some may have ideas about starting a business, but they do not know where to begin or how much capital they need to invest.
“By providing them with a platform like this, we hope to give them the confidence to try something new and gain valuable experience in running their own businesses,” she said.
Tan added that her role as an elected representative went beyond ensuring proper infrastructure and facilities for the constituency, as she was also committed to organising programmes that brought tangible benefits to the local community.
As part of the initiative to encourage public participation and support the young traders, her Seri Delima state constituency service centre also distributed RM5 vouchers to local residents and voters to spend at the participating stalls.
She said the vouchers would not only encourage more people to visit the programme but also provide direct support to the young entrepreneurs.
The programme was jointly organised by the Penang Youth Committee (JBPP) Seri Delima, Village Community Management Council (MPKK) Island Glades and Kawasan Rukun Tetangga (KRT) Island Glades.
Apart from the youth market, visitors also had the opportunity to purchase daily necessities through the Jualan Rahmah Madani initiative, which was held alongside the programme.
Meanwhile, Tan said her constituency service centre had also set up a mobile service counter to enable residents to lodge complaints and report issues affecting their neighbourhoods more conveniently.
Her team also took the opportunity to distribute 2027 calendars to residents attending the event.
Describing the inaugural programme as a positive step towards empowering young people, Tan expressed hope that it would continue in future editions, providing more aspiring entrepreneurs with opportunities to test their business ideas and gain practical experience.
She said initiatives such as this could help cultivate a stronger entrepreneurial culture while bringing the community together to support homegrown businesses.
Story by Riadz Akmal