Dato Sri Fatimah Abdullah
A SURVEY of 100 women entrepreneurs who received business equipment assistance worth RM5,000 each have increased their income by 162 per cent to RM1,428.
Welfare, Community Well Being, Women, Family and Childhood Development Minister Dato Sri Fatimah Abdullah said 200 women entrepreneurs had been identified to receive the aid this year to promote the empowerment and self-sufficiency of women.
“The empowerment and self-sufficiency of women and the enhancement of their political, social, economic, and health status is crucial for the achievement of sustainable development,” she said during her winding-up speech at the State Legislative Assembly yesterday.
Since November 2014, Fatimah said over 13,000 women had completed culinary, beauty, spa, massage, and creative sewing training at Wisma Wanita Training Centre.
“I would also like to thank the Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg for increasing the entrepreneur grant to promote women’s self-empowerment from RM1 million last year to RM2 million next year,” she said, pointing out it is expected to benefit around 400 women entrepreneurs next year.
She said 58 women had undergone marketing skills and financial management training under the ‘Starting Your Business Essentials Training’ conducted by Swinburne University of Technology Sarawak.
For the programme of ‘Women of Wonders: Empowering Sarawak Women Non-Governmental Organisation’, which started this year, Fatimah said 460 participants from 140 non-governmental organisations from Kuching, Sri Aman, Sarikei, Sibu, Mukah, Bintulu, Miri, and Limbang had benefitted.