A total of 3,577 Indian entrepreneurs in Malaysia have received financial assistance amounting to RM32.65 million under the Prosperity, Empowerment and A New Normal for Indian Women (PENN) programme as of 31st December 2024. The initiative was managed by Amanah Ikhtiar Malaysia, and has played a crucial role in helping Indian women’s venture into entrepreneurship, improving their livelihoods and their families.
According to Deputy Minister of Entrepreneurship and Cooperatives Development, YB Dato Sri Ramanan Ramakrishnan, the government remains committed to support Indian women’s, particularly housewives, the help goes by offering mentorship and training programmes focused on business management, skills development and technology.
Encouraging Women Entrepreneurship
Speaking during the Q&A session in the Dewan Rakyat, YB Dato Sri Ramanan emphasized the importance of fostering entrepreneurship among women. He highlighted that the Ministry of Entrepreneur and Cooperatives Development (KUSKOP) and its agencies are actively working to bring women to modern business opportunities and essential entrepreneurial training.
The PENN programme was launched on 13th April, 2024 with a special fund of RM50M. They started off with the aim to encourage more Indian women to engage in business ventures, creating financial stability and independence.
Beyond PENN, Kuskop agencies have introduced various initiatives to support women in business. That includes the Institut Keusahawanan Negara Bhd (Insken) which offers entrepreneurship coaching and courses such as Basic Entrepreneurship Course, Industry- Based Training, Insken Business Training and BizClinic business consultation sessions. Dato Ramanan also highlighted that in 2024, there were a total of 287 housewives have benefited from these programmes.
Meanwhile, Tekun Nasional Bhd has contributed to the growth of women entrepreneurs by providing the Online Financing Scheme (SPOT) to 649 women who operate online business or home based businesses.
In addition to that, Bank Rakyat’s RAKYATpreneur B40 (iTekad)programme has extended the training and financial guidance to 840 women entrepreneurs from the B40 group, aiming to enhance and support their financial management skills. In 2024, 140 women entrepreneurs from B40 have successfully benefited from this.
A Strong Commitment
The PENN initiative and other entrepreneurship programmes reflect the government’s efforts to boost economic participation among Indian women. By preparing them with financial aid, training and essential business knowledge, these initiatives show a way for long term financial stability and growth of entrepreneurs across Malaysia.
As more Indian women step into the business world, the support given by the government continues to play an important role in fostering self-reliance and sustainable economic process.
Sources: Bernama
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