afternoon highlight (07/03/12/042/517) Bigger opportunity for women entrepreneurs

Bigger opportunity for women entrepreneurs

KUALA LUMPUR: Home-based women entrepreneurs now have the opportunity to market their productsin shopping malls with the help of Wawasanita Malaysia, a non-governmental women organisation.

For a start, Wawasani-ta has identified 120 women entrepreneurs to showcase their pro-ducts in shopping malls, with the first stop being the Sogo shopping complex.

"We have a dedicated area in the shopping complex with free rental, where they can showcase their products for a maximum of 10 days.

If their products are a hit with the customers, they can cut a deal with the shopping complex owner to feature their products permanently by paying a minimal rental and utility costs," said Wawasanita Malaysia president Noor Hayati Abdul Rahman after the launch of the organisation's new branding officiated by Deputy Minister of International Trade and Industry Datuk Mukhriz Mahathir here yesterday.

Noor Hayati said most of the products that would be placed at the shopping mall are traditional food and Muslimah (Muslim women) apparels.

"We are talking with the management of Sogo to display the items within the next three months at the mall, just in time for the fasting month," she said.

Besides Sogo, Tesco, Jusco, Carrefour as well as Kedai Mesra in Petronas petrol stations will also be involved.

Noor Hayati said in-training will also be provided to these entrepreneurs to expose them to the open market.

"We will be getting government grants for the training that will take up to one year," she said.

Source : New Straits Times
Date : 7 March 2012
afternoon highlight (07/03/12/042/517)