BUKIT MERTAJAM: The Entrepreneur and Cooperatives Development Ministry has disbursed RM906mil in financing under the Dana Ekonomi Usahawan Wanita (Dewi) initiative since its launch last month, benefiting 106,100 women entrepreneurs nationwide.
Minister Steven Sim said the initiative, introduced in conjunction with International Women’s Day, mobilises a total funding pool of RM3bil across four key agencies to support up to 300,000 women entrepreneurs.
He said the four agencies involved comprise Tekun Nasional, Amanah Ikhtiar Malaysia, Bank Kerjasama Rakyat Malaysia Bhd (Bank Rakyat), and Small Medium Enterprise Development Bank Malaysia Bhd (SME Bank).
“Amanah Ikhtiar Malaysia caters primarily to micro-entrepreneurs such as home-based businesses.
“The institution has the largest allocation of about RM2.7bil, offering loans of up to RM30,000 per applicant, with RM880mil disbursed so far.
“Meanwhile, Bank Rakyat – through its BizLady-i scheme – provides financing of up to RM1mil at an interest rate of about 5%, with a total fund size of RM30mil.
“So far, we have given out RM4.5mil,” he said during a forum session at the HERTrade Expo x Dewi preview session yesterday.
Sim added that SME Bank’s SME Lady 2.0 scheme, with a total fund of RM50mil, offers financing of up to RM3mil per applicant at an interest rate of about 5%.
The scheme has disbursed nearly RM5.5mil so far.
For Tekun Nasional, which focuses on bumiputra entrepreneurs, he said up to RM16mil of the RM20mil allocation for women entrepreneurs has been disbursed, with financing of up to RM30,000 per applicant.
“Overall, across the four agencies, we have disbursed more than RM900mil in funding, benefiting 106,100 women entrepreneurs,” Sim said.
“This means about 70% of the allocation remains unutilised,” the minister further pointed out.
“We encourage more women entrepreneurs to take advantage of the financing facilities provided,” he said.
Sim had earlier announced the Dewi initiative on March 5 during the TikTok Shop Bazar Raya 2026 launch ceremony in Kuala Lumpur.
Dewi reflects the ministry’s commitment to empowering women entrepreneurs nationwide.
At the same time, the government initiative aims to foster more “iron ladies” who are competitive in business, with a target of benefiting 300,000 women entrepreneurs. — Bernama
