KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 24 — Approximately of 3,577 Indian entrepreneurs have received financing amounting to RM32.65 million under the Prosperity, Empowerment, and A New Normal for Indian Women (PENN) programme as of December 31 last year.
Entrepreneur and Cooperatives Development Deputy Minister Datuk Seri R. Ramanan said the initiative, managed by Amanah Ikhtiar Malaysia, has helped Indian women become entrepreneurs and thus make progress for themselves and their families.
“The Ministry of Entrepreneur and Cooperatives Development (Kuskop) and its agencies are committed to encouraging women, including housewives, to engage in entrepreneurship by providing mentoring and entrepreneurial training programmes that cover technology, skills, and business management,” he said during the question-and-answer session in the Dewan Rakyat today.
Ramanan was responding to Sungai Besar MP Datuk Muslimin Yahaya's query on the ministry's efforts to encourage couples in households, particularly housewives, to become micro-entrepreneurs, especially by exposing them to the latest technologies, skills training, and business courses.
The PENN programme was launched on April 13, 2024, involving a RM50 million special fund.
The deputy minister also highlighted other programmes offered by Kuskop agencies, including the basic entrepreneurship programmes under Institut Keusahawan Negara Bhd.
Insken provides coaching and exposure to new entrepreneurs who wish to start a business through programmes like the Basic Entrepreneurship Course, Industry-Based Training, Insken Business Training, and BizClinic business consultation sessions.
“In 2024, a total of 287 women entrepreneurs who are housewives have benefited from these programmes,” he said.
Meanwhile, Tekun Nasional Bhd has provided the Online Financing Scheme to 649 women entrepreneurs running online or home-based businesses in 2024.
Ramanan also cited Bank Rakyat’s RAKYATPreneur B40 programme which offers training and guidance for B40 entrepreneurs to enhance their financial management skills.
He said 140 B40 women entrepreneurs benefited from this programme last year.
— Bernama
