KUALA LUMPUR: The Entrepreneur and Cooperatives Development Ministry (Kuskop) has allocated a total of RM2.57 billion to 272,242 women entrepreneurs under Amanah Ikhtiar Malaysia (AIM) as of November 2024.
The ministry said in a written reply uploaded on the Dewan Negara portal today that among the programmes implemented for women entrepreneurs is the TEKUN-Wanita Financing Scheme for 3,258 women entrepreneurs with an allocation of RM28 million.
MECD also implemented the BRPlus - i BizLady programme by Bank Rakyat which has channelled funding of RM30.9 million to 489 women entrepreneurs.
In addition, the Successful Women Entrepreneurship Engagement Talent (SWEET) programme under the Be Your Own Boss (BYOB) project by PERNAS has involved 60 women entrepreneurs in the franchise industry with approved funding of RM9.2 million.
"For the year 2024, SME Corp through the BizME programme has collaborated with two implementing partners which are companies in the field of postnatal massage and nail care involving allocations amounting to RM499,184 and benefitting 121 female participants.
"This BizME programme will continue to be implemented in 2025 with an allocation of RM6 million involving a target of 630 micro-enterprises," it said in reply to Senator Anna Bell@Suzieana Perian's question about special grants or government assistance to empower women's involvement in the economy, particularly in business.