'Blooming Foodpanda' To Empower Women In Economic Growth

Empowering women in economics is key to achieving gender equality and boosting the growth of the country’s economy.

In conjunction with that Foodpanda Malaysia in partnership with Urbanice Malaysia has joined forces to create more opportunities for women and introduced Blooming Panda together. Urbanice Malaysia is an agency under the Ministry of Housing and Local Government to advocate the sustainable urban agenda. The Blooming panda campaign was launched on 7 December 2022 at the National Sustainable Development Goals Centre, Kuala Lumpur. The main objective of the event is to provide job opportunities for women to make a living. About 35 female Foodpanda walkers were present at the event. Foodpanda walkers are deliveries that are made by walking with a bag of food or cycling within short distances.

Also, present to officiate the event is, the Director of Operations at foodpanda Malaysia, Kelvin Chan, Chief Executive Officer of Urbanice Malaysia, Norliza Hashim, and Deputy Director of City Planning, Kuala Lumpur City Hall, Tuan Mohd Yushanizar bin Md Yusoff.

Kelvin during his speech said foodpanda recognises the demand for more flexible work and for women to be able to spend more of their time on what’s important to them. “We are committed to improving ourselves 1% better each day and to provide an avenue to help women break barriers in providing for their families and contribute to the economy,” added Kelvin. Kelvin also said Blooming Panda represents a new beginning for these women and offers an income opportunity for those in need the most in a manner that is safe and sustainable.

Chief Executive Officer of Urbanice Malaysia, Norliza Hashim, shared her delights in being able to collaborate with foodpanda Malaysia in this initiative programme. “We are overjoyed at seeing an industry giant such as foodpanda sharing similar values as us. Aside from promoting urban sustainability, we believe that empowering women is crucial to the health and social development of families and the community,” said Norliza.

Norliza during the press conference also said this programme named ‘blooming “ represents the women’s growth that would bloom gracefully as flowers.

Aside from helping women thrive in the gig economy, the partnership between foodpanda Malaysia and Urbanice Malaysia aims to promote zero-emission vehicles for a more sustainable community.

Sponsors and partners for the Blooming Panda initiative include the Selangor Zakat Board, which will be giving three months of zakat (tithe) to the eligible asnaf (needy) participants in the programme. Kiddocare, Malaysia’s first and preferred on-demand babysitting platform, will be sponsoring three months of home childcare for the delivery partners.

All 35 women in need who attended were equipped with a bicycle, a smartphone, a foodpanda delivery bag, and a full set uniform. This blooming food panda initiative introduced is said to further encourage women’s participation in the Gig economy and empower women’s welfare.