More than RM18 mln allocated to assist women, disabled business operators

KUALA LUMPUR: The Ministry of Entrepreneur Development and Cooperatives (MEDAC), together with the Women, Family and Community Development Ministry (KPWKM) has allocated more than RM18 million for programmes and assistance for women and disabled business operators.

In a statement, Minister Datuk Seri Dr Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar said MEDAC, via its agencies such as the National Entrepreneurship Institute (INSKEN), Tabung Ekonomi Kumpulan Usaha Niaga (TEKUN), SME Corp and Perbadanan Nasional Bhd (PNS), has agreed to work with KPWKM to assist the target groups, mainly in post-Covid-19 recovery and in expanding their operations.

He said women business owners are among those severely affected by the pandemic as most of them are in the micro and informal (unregistered) categories, and running businesses that are in the non-essential sectors such as aesthetics, fashion, spa, beauty, event management and wedding planning.

“MEDAC and its agencies are working very hard to provide end-to-end assistance that would significantly contribute not only to post-Covid-19 recovery but also to help the small and medium enterprise (SME) sector to thrive.

“This includes offering a wide range and services from financing assistance, microfinancing, coaching, training and upskilling programmes, which aims to produce more competitive, dynamic and resilient entrepreneurs,” he said.