KOTA KINABALU: The Sabah government continues to prioritise women's development programmes to help those affected by the Covid-19 pandemic, including women entrepreneurs in the state.
The chief minister's wife, Datin Seri Juliah Salag, said the government's concern was proven through the state's 2022 Budget, where RM17.61 million was allocated to implement women's development programmes.
Of the amount, RM11.8 million was allocated to Yayasan Usaha Maju (YUM) and RM5.81 million to Sabah Women's Affairs Department (JHEWA).
"This allocation is for the implementation of human capital development programmes for the well-being of women.
"The federal government has also allocated financing funds amounting to RM230 million, among others through the Women's Special Business Financing Scheme (DanaNITA) under Majlis Amanah Rakyat (Mara) and Tekunita through Tekun Nasional (Tekun), to increase their business capacity this year.
"Therefore, I hope this women entrepreneurship leadership programme and exhibition will become a platform for women entrepreneurs to explore more business opportunities with other partners, including sharing knowledge and experience," she said when opening the Woman Leadership and Entrepreneurs Showcase 2022 at Magellan Sutera, here, today.
The event was held in conjunction with the Sabah International Business and Economic Summit (SIBES) 2022 which took place for two days in Sabah from Jan 17.
Juliah said she hopes the one-day programme will be fully utilised and become a platform to build self-confidence in facing challenges.
"Seize all the opportunities provided and take full advantage of all the knowledge gained through this programme. Women also need to be resilient not only in physical and mental aspects, but also the ability to manage emotions, especially at a time when we are still facing the Covid-19 pandemic," she said.
Juliah congratulated the organiser for opening a starting page at the beginning of the year, especially towards the development and advancement of women entrepreneurship under the Sabah government's initiative, the Sabah Maju Jaya Roadmap (SMJ).
"In the last two years, we have seen and felt the economic slowdown due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Women are also directly affected in both employment and business.
"Based on a United Nations report in November 2020; although men and women were burdened with work without a pay rise during the Covid-19 crisis, women were more likely to give up their careers in order to concentrate on responsibilities at home.
"With this, the opportunity to venture into the business world for women and housewives who are interested and have potential in the business world, is more open," she said.