Magic's idea platform will create opportunities, uplift B40 group: Ali Hamsa

CYBERJAYA: The Impact Driven Enterprise Accreditation (Idea) will enable the public and private sectors to create impact through their day-to-day procurement activities by creating a more sustainable capital flow and boosting opportunities to uplift Bottom 40 (B40) communities, said Chief Secretary to the Government Tan Sri Dr Ali Hamsa.
He said the Idea programme, a brainchild of the Malaysian Global Innovation & Creativity Centre (Magic), is a national and pioneering initiative that will position these sectors as a force of impact in creating jobs, providing subsidised goods, and economic empowerment for the people.
Citing examples of impact driven enterprises, Ali said Foodabox had replaced almost a million polystyrene food-boxes with biodegradable ones using an innovative business model and the Picha Project, started by three young women, was a catering company where their food was prepared by B40 communities (where the household income is below RM3,000 a month).
"Malaysia houses hundreds of impact-driven enterprises (IDEs). Collectively, they make over RM15 million in revenue and have created hundreds, if not, thousands of jobs for B40 communities as well as lasting environmental impact.
"I would like to encourage government agencies to give priority to impact driven enterprises registered on Magic's Idea platform. It is my hope that Idea will grow actively," he said when launching Idea at Magic here today.
Also present were Treasury Secretary-General Tan Sri Dr Mohd Irwan Serigar Abdullah and Magic Chief Executive Officer Ashran Ghazi.
Meanwhile, Ashran said today's launch was a significant milestone for Magic and Malaysia on its journey to inspire social enterprise movements and develop the impact driven enterprises sector.
"Engaging with IDEs on achieving growth despite their strong passion to create change. Idea will help their efforts to create positive social change, helping them demonstrate credibility and providing them access to resources and opportunities.
"In turn, Idea also provides a platform that will help the public and private sectors to address community issues as part of the way they do business, helping inclusive economic growth in the country," he said, adding that by being accredited, IDEs could get listed on a public directory to connect with potential customers locally and globally.
Apart from the accreditation and social procurement programmes, Ashran said the platform contained an online directory with a list of certified IDEs, impact indicators of the IDEs and quarterly reports on their impact performance.
Currently, he said 21 IDEs had been registered under Magic's platform and another 50 were expected to register by end of the year.
By 2018, he said, 700 active IDEs would be active in the sector, which would be self-sustaining, equitable and people-centric. — Bernama