AIM, MPWS to produce more Sabah women entrepreneurs

PUTRAJAYA: Agensi Inovasi Malaysia (AIM) and the Sabah Women’s Advisory Council (MPWS) are keen to work together in producing more women entrepreneurs in Sabah.

Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Seri Nancy Shukri said the matter was discussed when MPWS Chairman Datuk Dr Hajah Tarsia callled on her at her office here yesterday.

During the meeting, Nancy briefed Hajah on AIM’s initiatives, which included the Steinbeis Malaysia Foundation and PlatCOM, which could help to nurture entrepreneurs, as MPWS sought help from agencies like AIM to help Sabahans in the 18-35 age group to become entrepreneurs.

The Steinbeis Malaysia Foundation provides advisory services from academics and industry experts, Nancy said in a statement.

MPWS, a Sabah government agency, acts like a think-tank and implementor of programmes or policies to integrate efforts towards promoting women in Sabah.

Citing examples, Nancy said entreprenuers, who encountered packaging problems and aimed for overseas markets but lack knowledge and direction, could seek advice from the Steinbeis Malaysia Foundation who could enlist the services of local or foreign experts in the fields.

Last year, the foundation assisted 44 small and medium enterprise (SME) entrepreneurs in obtaining industry certification.

The statement said on the other hand, PlatCOM acted as a catalyst for SMEs towards commercialising their innovations from the conceptual stage.

PlatCOM provides services in designing business plans, product development and marketing, as well as facilitating funding sources, it added. -Bernama