KUALA LUMPUR, May 22, 2026 – Institut Keusahawanan Negara Berhad (INSKEN), an agency under the Ministry of Entrepreneur Development and Cooperatives (KUSKOP), has invested RM5 million since 2022 to empower social enterprises in Malaysia through various capacity-building, market access and social enterprise rating initiatives.
Minister of Entrepreneur Development and Cooperatives, YB Steven Sim Chee Keong said the investment was implemented after INSKEN was mandated in 2022 to lead the development of social enterprises, in line with the MADANI Government’s efforts to strengthen the sector as one of the drivers of the country’s inclusive economy.
According to him, social enterprises are becoming increasingly important in a world facing geopolitical uncertainties, global supply crises and social changes because this business model does not only pursue profit but also aims to solve societal and environmental problems through creative and sustainable approaches.
“As an example, an increasingly ageing society in the future will require more community care services and social support, which can also be pioneered through the social enterprise model,” he said.
Among the initiatives implemented by INSKEN are stakeholder engagement sessions with industry players, social enterprise rating clinics, international conferences, as well as networking strengthening and market access programmes at local and international levels.
To date, a total of 3,875 participants have benefited from the various programmes and initiatives implemented by INSKEN.
In the past two quarters, INSKEN also allocated RM200,000 to assist 20 social enterprise entities in expanding their markets and community impact through opportunities for product and service purchases, operational subsidies, event participation and strategic business matching.
Steven Sim also encouraged more social enterprises to obtain social enterprise ratings through INSKEN to increase their credibility as well as access to financing, tax exemptions, programme and exhibition participation opportunities, and various forms of government support.
Based on the SEMy2030 document and the British Council’s study The State of Social Enterprise in Malaysia, it is estimated that there were 20,749 social enterprises in Malaysia as of 2018.
To date, 600 business entities have received social enterprise ratings through INSKEN, comprising Aspiring Social Enterprises (Tunas Perusahaan Sosial, 281 entities), Basic Social Enterprises (SE.Basic, 252 entities) and Accredited Social Enterprises (SE.Accredited, 67 entities).
INSKEN Chief Executive Officer Viviantie Sarjuni said this effort reflects INSKEN’s role as an ecosystem driver in bridging the gap between social enterprises and real market opportunities.
She said INSKEN is also shifting towards mainstreaming social procurement so that it becomes a practice on par with conventional businesses, thereby helping social enterprises become more competitive, sustainable and ready to expand to a larger scale.
At the same time, this approach is hoped to become an example for more organisations to implement impact-driven procurement that not only delivers economic value, but also contributes to social development, community well-being and environmental sustainability.
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