PUTRAJAYA: Malaysia should organise more programmes for women entrepreneurs, especially in light of its position as Asean chairman next year which will see more people coming from overseas.
The proposal was made by Deputy Entrepreneur Development and Cooperatives Minister Datuk R. Ramanan. He said Malaysia could also cut its cost on overseas promotion of local products if this was done.
"In conjunction with our Asean chairmanship, I would like to make a suggestion — this is still under discussion. The theme will focus on inclusivity and sustainability. To embrace inclusivity, the ministry is considering launching a programme for women entrepreneurs, and we hope to receive support for this initiative.
"During Asean summits and meetings, we will see many international visitors coming to Malaysia. So, if we want to promote our entrepreneurs, for example, as I mentioned earlier, the ministry has already been helping numerous entrepreneurs showcase their products in places like the United States, Indonesia and Dubai, where they now even have stores.
"Given that visitors are coming to Malaysia, if we can exhibit all our products here, we won't need to bear the costs of showcasing them abroad or spending our money in other countries.
"This is still under discussion and I need to obtain the minister's approval first," he told reporters after launching the Women Entrepreneurs Carnival at IOI Grand Exhibition and Convention Centre, here, today.
On the current three-day carnival, Ramanan said the target was to achieve more than RM2 million in sales with the 100 booths.
With the theme "Women Entrepreneurs Driving the Nation's Economy," Ramanan said the aim of the carnival was to spark a wave of change within the community, especially among women, and encourage them to deepen their business knowledge and potential.
Earlier in his speech, Ramanan said that the carnival was more than just a shopping opportunity or a product exhibition.
"Of course, with the collaboration and full support from ministry through MyMall, this three-day event will not only celebrate women's entrepreneurship but also create space for intellectual discussions and strategy-sharing to overcome challenges and empower the community.
"So far, MyMall has attracted the participation of over 2,600 entrepreneurs, generating a total sales value of RM8.85 million.
"MyMall is not merely an online sales platform. It is a comprehensive entrepreneurial ecosystem that also offers training, financing and marketing support. Most importantly, it is free.
"MyMall will also have a booth at the carnival to introduce more women entrepreneurs to the vast potential of this platform," he said.
Ramanan added that the ministry remains attentive to the financing needs of women entrepreneurs by providing access to funding facilities through its agencies.
Among the financing options and incentive programmes available specifically for women are the Ikhtiar Financing Scheme (SPI) from Amanah Ikhtiar Malaysia (AIM) the Prosperity Empowerment and A New Normal for Indian Women (PENN) programme, the UDA Entrepreneurship Incentive Programme (PIUU), the Tekun Women's Financing Scheme (Teman Tekun) and the franchise/pre-franchise financing scheme.
Apart from sales, each carnival day will feature intensive knowledge-sharing sessions, such as talk shows, exciting competitions including the "Duo-Sis So Cantik" make-up contest, and game segments.
Visitors will also have the chance to meet well-known celebrities who have succeeded in business, such as Mek Dinda, Cikgu Samm, Christy Ng, Fatin Amirah Zaabar, and various recreational activities and performances.