FOR Anis Zulaika Noriman and her sister Anis Maisarah, the RM470mil financing for women to purchase assets and increase business capacity could help increase capability and reach.
“In every business, capital is the main thing. A special business loan for women entrepreneurs can help strengthen business ventures and ensure its continuity in the long run,” said Anis Zulaikha, 24.
Together with her 22-year-old sister, they took over their mother’s home pineapple tart business that started 20 years ago.
The financing, provided by SME Bank, Bank Simpanan Nasional, Bank Rakyat and Majlis Amanah Rakyat, is part of the government’s effort to help women-led micro, small and medium enterprises.
It was announced by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim during the tabling of Budget 2025 yesterday.
“Financing can help small business owners cover the cost of creating marketing ads, researching new products to expand their line-up and purchasing machines to speed up the manufacturing process and increase product capacity.
“It’s very valuable in developing a business,” Anis Zulaikha said, citing their business, Tartz Empire, as an example, which currently occupies a shoplot in Shah Alam.
Other initiatives announced in Budget 2025 to support women in the workforce is a Returnship programme to encourage women to come back to work in the financial sector.
Carried out by Bank Negara Malaysia and the Securities Commission, it will provide training and networking, connecting women with suitable potential employers.
Engender Consultancy founder and managing director Omna-Sreeni Ong said while this is a good measure, the data of women dropping out of the workforce also needs to be studied.
“The efficacy of this effort needs to be monitored to see if it really increases the number of women going back to the workforce in the financial sector,” she said.
The Prime Minister also announced an additional tax deduction of 50% for employers to encourage women to return to the workforce.
“An accurate data analysis of employers should be conducted to determine how many of them accept the offer and how many don’t,” Ong said.
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