Latest news with #Matrade
The Star
11-06-2025
- Business
- The Star
Zahid: Women entrepreneurs should get more financial support
KUALA LUMPUR: Women entrepreneurs in Malaysia should be provided with greater business financing to support their expansion efforts and facilitate entry into international markets, says Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi (pic). The Deputy Prime Minister said this initiative is particularly crucial for women entrepreneurs, who face challenges in accessing financial capital. 'We should also align the Global Women's Empowerment Fund scheme with an export financing initiative, tailored to support high-potential women entrepreneurs. This fund should prioritise export certification, participation in international expos, global branding and logistics. 'The proposal to increase loan capital is justified. 'For instance, Amanah Ikhtiar Malaysia (AIM), where nearly 100% of borrowers are women, has maintained an impressively low non-performing loan (NPL) rate of just 0.1%,' he said. Ahmad Zahid said this when launching the Women in Export Forum 2025, jointly organised by the Malaysia External Trade Development Corporation (Matrade) and the Malaysian Women and Family Affairs Organisation (Hawa) at Matrade yesterday, Bernama reported. Also present were Investment, Trade and Industry Minister Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Tengku Abdul Aziz, Matrade chairman Datuk Seri Reezal Merican Naina Merican and Hawa chairman Tan Sri Shahrizat Abdul Jalil. Ahmad Zahid, who is also Rural and Regional Development Minister, proposed the setting up of a Women Export Incubator – a one-stop centre designed to provide a comprehensive support ecosystem for women entrepreneurs aiming to enter the international market. He emphasised that the incubator should offer export mentoring services, international certification training, co-working spaces and digital business clinics, with a particular focus on supporting women from rural areas and the B40 group. 'I also propose the 'Anugerah Wira Ekonomi Wanita' to recognise female figures who have made a significant impact in trade, technology, the halal industry and regional exports,' Ahmad Zahid said. 'This initiative will not only inspire enthusiasm, but also serve as a platform for economic diplomacy, enhancing Malaysia's global branding.'
The Sun
10-06-2025
- Business
- The Sun
Women entrepreneurs should receive greater business financing support
KUALA LUMPUR: Women entrepreneurs in Malaysia should be provided with greater business financing, to support their expansion efforts, and facilitate entry into international markets. Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said that this initiative is particularly crucial for women entrepreneurs, who face challenges in accessing financial capital. 'We should also align the Global Women's Empowerment Fund scheme with an export financing initiative, tailored to support high-potential women entrepreneurs. This fund should prioritise export certification, participation in international expos, global branding, and logistics. 'The proposal to increase loan capital is justified. For instance, Amanah Ikhtiar Malaysia (AIM), where nearly 100 per cent of borrowers are women, has maintained an impressively low non-performing loan (NPL) rate, of just 0.1 per cent,' he said. He said this when officiating the Women in Export Forum 2025, jointly organised by the Malaysia External Trade Development Corporation (Matrade) and the Malaysian Women and Family Affairs Organisation (Hawa), at Matrade today. Also present were Investment, Trade and Industry Minister Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Abdul Aziz; Matrade chairman Datuk Seri Reezal Merican Naina Merican; and Hawa chairman Tan Sri Shahrizat Abdul Jalil. Ahmad Zahid, who is also the Minister of Rural and Regional Development, proposed the establishment of a Women Export Incubator - a one-stop centre designed to provide a comprehensive support ecosystem for women entrepreneurs aiming to enter the international market. He emphasised that the incubator should offer export mentoring services, international certification training, co-working spaces, and digital business clinics, with a particular focus on supporting women from rural areas and the B40 group. 'I also propose the 'Anugerah Wira Ekonomi Wanita', to recognise female figures who have made a significant impact in trade, technology, the halal industry, and regional exports. This initiative will not only inspire enthusiasm, but also serve as a platform for economic diplomacy, enhancing Malaysia's global branding. 'At the same time, we must champion the Green Trade for Women, an initiative designed to train and support women in producing environmentally friendly products, which align with ESG (environmental, social, and governance) principles,' he said. Ahmad Zahid, who is also the chairman of the National Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) Council, emphasised the importance of leveraging the TVET platform to strengthen women's skills across various fields, including technology and entrepreneurship.
The Sun
10-06-2025
- Business
- The Sun
Zahid: Boost financing for women entrepreneurs
KUALA LUMPUR: Women entrepreneurs in Malaysia should be provided with greater business financing, to support their expansion efforts, and facilitate entry into international markets. Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said that this initiative is particularly crucial for women entrepreneurs, who face challenges in accessing financial capital. 'We should also align the Global Women's Empowerment Fund scheme with an export financing initiative, tailored to support high-potential women entrepreneurs. This fund should prioritise export certification, participation in international expos, global branding, and logistics. 'The proposal to increase loan capital is justified. For instance, Amanah Ikhtiar Malaysia (AIM), where nearly 100 per cent of borrowers are women, has maintained an impressively low non-performing loan (NPL) rate, of just 0.1 per cent,' he said. He said this when officiating the Women in Export Forum 2025, jointly organised by the Malaysia External Trade Development Corporation (Matrade) and the Malaysian Women and Family Affairs Organisation (Hawa), at Matrade today. Also present were Investment, Trade and Industry Minister Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Abdul Aziz; Matrade chairman Datuk Seri Reezal Merican Naina Merican; and Hawa chairman Tan Sri Shahrizat Abdul Jalil. Ahmad Zahid, who is also the Minister of Rural and Regional Development, proposed the establishment of a Women Export Incubator - a one-stop centre designed to provide a comprehensive support ecosystem for women entrepreneurs aiming to enter the international market. He emphasised that the incubator should offer export mentoring services, international certification training, co-working spaces, and digital business clinics, with a particular focus on supporting women from rural areas and the B40 group. 'I also propose the 'Anugerah Wira Ekonomi Wanita', to recognise female figures who have made a significant impact in trade, technology, the halal industry, and regional exports. This initiative will not only inspire enthusiasm, but also serve as a platform for economic diplomacy, enhancing Malaysia's global branding. 'At the same time, we must champion the Green Trade for Women, an initiative designed to train and support women in producing environmentally friendly products, which align with ESG (environmental, social, and governance) principles,' he said. Ahmad Zahid, who is also the chairman of the National Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) Council, emphasised the importance of leveraging the TVET platform to strengthen women's skills across various fields, including technology and entrepreneurship.
The Sun
10-06-2025
- Business
- The Sun
Tengku Zafrul's exit from Umno will not affect efforts to strengthen economy
KUALA LUMPUR: Investment, Trade and Industry Minister Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Abdul Aziz's decision to leave Umno will not affect the government's efforts to strengthen the national economy and empower the trade sector, according to Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi. Ahmad Zahid, who is also Umno president, said an individual's political leanings should not be mixed with the management and administration of an organisation, especially in the context of governing a country. 'We have a clear boundary (between politics and administration). We are professionals, and in line with that principle, I choose to respectfully acknowledge differing views,' he told reporters after opening the Women In Export Forum 2025 at the Malaysia External Trade Development Corporation (Matrade) here today. Also present were Tengku Zafrul, Matrade chairman Datuk Seri Reezal Merican Naina Merican and Malaysian Organisation for Women and Family Affairs (HAWA) chairman Tan Sri Shahrizat Abdul Jalil. Ahmad Zahid was responding to a question about the impact of Tengku Zafrul's resignation from Umno on the country's administration and the implementation of government policies. Asked about his relationship with Tengku Zafrul, Ahmad Zahid briefly replied that everything is well. In a statement on May 30, Tengku Zafrul announced that he had submitted his resignation letter to the Umno leadership.
The Sun
10-06-2025
- Business
- The Sun
Zafrul's Umno exit won't affect economy: Zahid
KUALA LUMPUR: Investment, Trade and Industry Minister Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Abdul Aziz's decision to leave Umno will not affect the government's efforts to strengthen the national economy and empower the trade sector, according to Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi. Ahmad Zahid, who is also Umno president, said an individual's political leanings should not be mixed with the management and administration of an organisation, especially in the context of governing a country. 'We have a clear boundary (between politics and administration). We are professionals, and in line with that principle, I choose to respectfully acknowledge differing views,' he told reporters after opening the Women In Export Forum 2025 at the Malaysia External Trade Development Corporation (Matrade) here today. Also present were Tengku Zafrul, Matrade chairman Datuk Seri Reezal Merican Naina Merican and Malaysian Organisation for Women and Family Affairs (HAWA) chairman Tan Sri Shahrizat Abdul Jalil. Ahmad Zahid was responding to a question about the impact of Tengku Zafrul's resignation from Umno on the country's administration and the implementation of government policies. Asked about his relationship with Tengku Zafrul, Ahmad Zahid briefly replied that everything is well. In a statement on May 30, Tengku Zafrul announced that he had submitted his resignation letter to the Umno leadership.
