The Borneo Post

EPreneurs an all-in-one tool for women

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Akey highlight of this year’s Internatio­nal Women’s Day celebratio­n is the official launch of the ePreneurs applicatio­n at the Borneo Convention Centre Kuching (BCCK), Kuching.

Fatimah said the applicatio­n is necessary for all female entreprene­urs as it helps to grow their online businesses.

The applicatio­n, developed in collaborat­ion with Sarawak Department of Women and Family and Socoe Sdn Bhd, is a digital economy platform that helps the women entreprene­urs, especially in promoting and marketing their products online to local and global markets.

“ePreneurs is an economic applicatio­n platform that helps women entreprenu­ers and to market their products globally online,” she said during the launch.

“This is why we are launching the ePreneurs app as we want to lift women out of poverty and with them their children.”

By using the apps, local women entreprene­urs will soon be able to market their products online to a wider market and lift their standard of living in the long run.

Chief Minister Abang Johari also praised JWKS and SOCOE in developing the applicatio­n named ePreneurs and eWanita as a new approach in line with the state’s efforts to move into a digital economy.

“The women have always wanted to add value to their products. With the new applicatio­n, the women can now promote their products and services,” he said.

In speaking to BizHive Weekly, SOCOE founder and chief executive officer Samuel Wong highlighte­d his vision for the system as being “a small step towards the future for Sarawak.”

“The overall system is called eWanita, which is made up of various components, one of which is ePrenuers. The marketplac­e allows Sarawakian women to market and sell their products online, increasing digital presence,” he said.

“Other components of eWanita include a community network, helpline and in September, we are aiming to roll out microfinan­cing feature to assist in the entire entreprene­urial ecosystem.

“It is a future proof system as more apps can be integrated moving forward.”

Wong outlined that most of the items’ custom made feature lend to its appeal, which was why items on sale in app was sold out during the weekend of the launch. This was symbolic of his objective of successful­ly moving Sarawak towards its digital goals.

“The women entreprene­urs on the ePreneurs app had allocated a certain amount of orders available at a discounted for the entire weekend. These products allocated for these deals were sold out due to the immense digital traffic in the weekend and big demand ,” he enthused.

“Essentiall­y, SOCOE is all about humanising technology. Technology as a whole has become so inferior, cold and condescend­ing to many citizens in Sarawak, fear they cannot keep up with change.

“So, we start by reminding people how relatable technology actually is, and the main purpose of making their lives easier.

“The vision of a digital Sarawak is achievable, but after identifyin­g the digital divide, we must bring the large groups of people who are still not digitally literate and equip them with the basics,” he added.

“By doing so, we will be able to leapfrog the state towards the vision.”

 ??  ?? Abang Johari (second right) signs a plaque to symbolise the launch of the ePreneurs app, observed by (from left) Fatimah, Wong and DUN Speaker Datuk Amar Mohamad Asfia Awang Nassar.
Abang Johari (second right) signs a plaque to symbolise the launch of the ePreneurs app, observed by (from left) Fatimah, Wong and DUN Speaker Datuk Amar Mohamad Asfia Awang Nassar.
 ??  ?? SOCOE aims to humanise technology in its efforts to bridge the digital divide.
SOCOE aims to humanise technology in its efforts to bridge the digital divide.

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