KUALA LUMPUR (May 7): Perbadanan Usahawan Nasional Bhd (PUNB) has lowered the financing profit rate for its business financing scheme to 3.5% per annum from between 5% and 6.75%, in a move aimed at easing cost pressures faced by Bumiputera entrepreneurs.
The revised rate for the Prosper Grow financing scheme takes effect for all approvals from Jan 1, 2026 onwards, including existing recipients approved this year, according to its statement released on Thursday.
PUNB said the initiative is expected to benefit Bumiputera entrepreneurs seeking financing between RM100,000 and RM1 million to grow their businesses and sustain operations amid rising input costs, logistics expenses and ongoing global supply chain disruptions.
The agency said the reduction of between 1.5 and 3.25 percentage points from the initial profit rate would translate into meaningful cost savings, enabling businesses to improve cash flow management, strengthen financial resilience and reinvest in growth.
PUNB chief executive officer Izwan Zainuddin said the adjustment reflects a timely intervention to ensure Bumiputera enterprises remain competitive in a challenging economic environment.
“In an uncertain global economy, cost pressures are a reality that must be managed proactively. Reducing the rate to 3.5% is more than just a financial incentive; it is a vital step toward ensuring Bumiputera entrepreneurs remain resilient, competitive and capable of long-term growth,” he said.
Izwan added that the initiative aligns with the government’s broader agenda to strengthen an inclusive and sustainable Bumiputera entrepreneurship ecosystem under the Madani framework.
The rate revision marks an early implementation of PUNB’s R30 Strategic Plan (2026 to 2030), which focuses on three pillars — reinforce, scale and sustainability — aimed at strengthening the impact of its financing and business support ecosystem.
In addition to Prosper Grow, PUNB also offers two other schemes tailored to different stages of business growth.
Prosper Great targets high-potential Bumiputera companies in strategic sectors such as green technology and renewable energy, with financing of up to RM10 million. Prosper Impact/Nova, meanwhile, provides financing of up to RM20 million for large-scale project contracts involving government procurement.