SHAH ALAM, 22 May: The Selangor Permata Young Entrepreneur Programme (YEP) organised by the Selangor State Development Corporation (PKNS) managed to attract the interest of 17,000 secondary school students to know and approach the culture of entrepreneurship and business closer.
The acting General Manager of PKNS, Azlan Md Alifiah, said that the programme, which was first introduced in 1998, managed to establish 679 private companies in over 50 secondary schools throughout the state and participated by form Two and Four students.
He said that each year, 25 students from each school are entrusted to manage a company established in their respective schools.
“At the age of 14 and 16, students are given the opportunity to lead their own company and be appointed as the youngest board members in Malaysia, and possibly in the world.
“This programme is deemed to be very valuable opportunity for the younger generation to explore the world of corporate business and entrepreneurship more closely,” he said at the Selangor Young Entrepreneur Programme Convention 2013 at the Shah Alam Convention Centre (SACC) yesterday.
The Convention is the highlight event for Permata YEP students every year, where recognition will be given to those who vigorously carry out their business activities.
The programme, which also received cooperation from the Selangor Department of Education (JPS), provides an opportunity to students to sell products and services at their respective kiosks, in addition to undergoing a course related to company operations, entrepreneurship training and business practice.
Each company established has 25 shareholders and five of them are board members.
Among the businesses YEP participants took part in are wholesaling, services, tourism, agriculture, livestock, food and beverages, biotechnology and information and communication technology (ICT).
Meanwhile, Azlan said that PKNS has also developed 14 special programmes dedicated to various groups, including Institutes of Higher Learning (IPT) so that students are not left behind in entrepreneurship programmes.
He said that PKNS is a platform to strengthen existing entrepreneurs and is a medium to develop more successors in the field.
“I hope that programmes organised by PKNS will be beneficial to all, especially the young people, to learn about the business world and be a stepping stone in future,” he said.