KOTA KINABALU, Feb 12 (Bernama) -- Bumiputera entrepreneurs in Sabah have been urged to enhance performance and participation in their respective industries and grab available oportunities.

This is to ensure that they are not left far behind, compared to the other communities in the state.

Deputy Minister of International Trade and Industry Datuk Jacob Dungau Sagan said, based on the performance level of the bumiputera entrepreneurs at present, there is still much room for improvement.

"If we consider the performance of bumiputeras in the ownership of companies as of December 2008, they are found to only control 27.45 per cent when compared to the 72.45 per cent for non-bumiputeras.

"The difference clearly shows just how far behind Sabah bumiputera entrepreneurs are, in not fully grabbing the available opportunities," he said while officiating a Seminar and Clinic for Entrepreneurs on incentives and business opportunities organised by his ministry here on Friday.

In respect of the ownership of real estate, Jacob highlighted that bumiputeras in Sabah at present owned only 44 per cent compared to the 54.9 per cent by non-bumiputeras.

"The number of bumiputera companies involved in the industrial sector,especially manufacturing, was at just 9.1 per cent compared to 90 per cent for non-bumiputeras.

"It is clear that this obvious gap must be overcome and efforts to balance it must start from now.

"Therefore, the Ministry of International Trade and Industry (MITI), must play a role alongside Sabah bumiputeras to find the balance and ensure the wealth of the country is enjoyed on a fair and equitable basis," he stressed.

Jacob added that MITI had high hopes of through its programmes, grooming successful bumiputera entrepreneurs, ready to take business risks and utilise technology and marketing, before entering a specific field as consumer demand is even greater now.

In a related development, the implementation of the Sabah Development Corridor(SDC) which is expected to create new job opportunities for more than a million people in the state, is one venture that the bumiputera community in Sabah needs to consider.

-- BERNAMA