KUALA LUMPUR: The Ministry of Investment, Trade and Industry (MITI) has identified several key priorities to empower women in trade and industry, including financing and access to resources.
Minister Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Abdul Aziz said this could ensure women entrepreneurs have better access to credit, trade finance, venture capital, and green financing.
"Other key priorities are digital empowerment, sustainability, leadership and mentorship, as well as regional cooperation.
"Digital empowerment will equip women with the tools to harness e-commerce, artificial intelligence, and cybersecurity for cross-border trade,” he said in his speech at the forum ‘Unleashing the Power of Women in ASEAN: Trade and Industry across Borders’.
In addition, Tengku Zafrul said sustainability aims to enable women-led businesses to align with environmental, social and governance (ESG) principles and seize opportunities in renewable energy and the circular economy.
Meanwhile, support for leadership and mentorship seeks to build cross-border networks where seasoned leaders mentor emerging entrepreneurs, and regional cooperation focuses on leveraging ASEAN frameworks such as the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) and ASEAN Digital Economy initiatives to expand market access.
Tengku Zafrul also noted that women in Malaysia make up nearly half the population but less than one-third of business owners.
"This is a gap we can neither ignore nor afford. That is why inclusivity is also central to MITI’s economic plans, including the New Industrial Master Plan 2030 and the National Trade Blueprint.
"Both aim to create opportunities for small and medium enterprises, including those led by women, to expand regionally and globally,” he said.
Citing the Department of Statistics Malaysia, Tengku Zafrul said there were over 219,015 active women-owned establishments in Malaysia in 2022, which collectively contributed RM137 billion to the country’s gross output.
Within ASEAN, women-led enterprises play a vital role in intra-regional trade and global supply chains, he said.
"To unlock this potential, the government must break down barriers and enable women entrepreneurs to scale, innovate, and compete across borders," added Tengku Zafrul. - Bernama
