BY JACQUELINE DAVID
KUCHING: Mara entrepreneurs have been urged to take advantage of available opportunities to empower their business skills and operations.
Rural and Regional Development Deputy Minister Dato Rubiah Wang in this instance pointed to the fast-growing importance of e-commerce.
She called on entrepreneurs to make use of the Biznetwork programme, introduced by Mara in 2020, to strengthen their brands, expand their markets and build business networks.
“E-commerce platforms not only change the way enterprises operate but also expand market reach and increase competitiveness among entrepreneurs in the current economic landscape,” she said.
She was speaking at the launching of the Biznetwork Borneo Zone and Mara Community Women’s Empowerment Action Plan (2025-2030) here today (Nov 30).
She said the impact of promotion through the Biznetwork Fiesta 2024 programme is estimated to increase the sales revenue of entrepreneurs involved by 20 per cent.
According to her, at the same event that took place in three other locations prior to Kuching, namely, Penang, Shah Alam and Kota Bharu, a total of RM500,000 in sales revenue was generated by entrepreneurs.
“I hope that for the Borneo Zone and the Southern Zone in Johor Bahru this week, we will be able to raise the amount to RM1 million,” she said.
Meanwhile, she said under the Biznetwork Fiesta programme collaboration with TikTok Malaysia was also trending.
“I see that this TikTok medium can increase sales of entrepreneurs’ products and services through attractive promotional offers,” she said.
Rubiah also said that Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim recently announced several initiatives involving women.
“The allocation of RM650 million to support women and youth in entrepreneurship is considered a step towards fostering inclusivity and diversity in the business landscape.
“This initiative reflects the growing recognition of the critical role women play in economic development and entrepreneurship,” she said.
Towards this end she said Mara is not left behind in empowering women as contributors to national development.
“Mara also ensures that more women entrepreneurs get entrepreneurial facilities and Mara financing,” she said.
Quoting statistics until August this year, she said the involvement of women entrepreneurs in various types of entrepreneurship training organised by Mara reached 48 per cent while the figure stood at about 30 per cent for women entrepreneurs who received Mara financing facilities.
Also present at the event were Mara Council Members Datuk Rosni Sohar, Siti Ajar Yasin, Deputy Director General of Mara Management Services, Rohayah Mohd Zain, Centre for Women Advancement & Leadership (CWAL) UniKL, Associate Professor Dr Zuhanis Mansor, Mara Sarawak director, A Razu Abdul Razak, Chairman of the Sabah Women’s Development Council (MPWS) and member of Women, Family and Community Development Department (JPWKM) (Sabah Professional Representative), Datuk Dr Tarsiah Taman and UKM Gender Expert & JPWKM Member (Academic Expert), Associate Professor Dr Jamaluddin Aiz.
