Johor to enlist women to make unique handicrafts

JOHOR BARU: The Johor government will be roping in single mothers and women to create unique handicraft that reflects the state’s identity, says state exco member Liow Cai Tung.

“Their artwork will be used as gifts that are unique and different and are able to picture the Johor identity.

“I hope their creation will replace the gifts that are usually given during programmes or ceremonies, such as plaques.

“The artwork can also be given to tourists visiting Johor,” she said yesterday.

Liow, who is Johor Women Development and Tourism Com-

Their artwork will be used as gifts that are unique and different and are able to picture the Johor identity. Liow Cai Tung

mittee chairman, said it was part of the state government’s efforts to help the less fortunate, especially women.

She hopes that the participants are able to become entrepreneurs.

Liow said this in her speech which was read out by state Women Development Department director Mohamad Ali Taib at the Iskandar Malaysia Women Entrepreneurship Summit 2018 here yesterday.

Liow said the state government always encouraged women to take part in e-commerce and digital entrepreneurship.

She said currently, many of those involved in traditional trade had moved to online business.

“The state government, through its Johor Master Development Plan 2019-2030, will focus on strengthening and empowering women.

“This includes protecting their rights and giving them aid as well as providing more entrepreneurial opportunities for them,” she said.

She said a study by the Department of Statistics in 2017 showed opportunities and involvement of women in the economy were still low compared to their male counterparts.

“Although there are more female undergraduates at universities, the workforce is made up of more men, which is 80% more than women,” she said.

Liow said the low rate of women workers could be due to reasons such as their decision to leave the workforce to concentrate on family life, or a lack of opportunity for women workers in some sectors.

Such issues contributed to their lack of confidence when entering the working environment.

“We need e-commerce as a platform to encourage women to take part in the economy, which will empower them and improve their lives,” said Liow.

Johor identi-tea: Mohamad Ali and Iskandar Regional Development Authority Business Eco System vice-president Nagarajan Prakash (right) visiting one of the booths during the Iskandar Malaysia Women Entrepreneurship Summit 2018 in Johor Baru.