By Christine T
KUCHING, Oct 13: The inaugural National Association of Women Entrepreneurs of Malaysia (NAWEM) International Forum on Inclusive Growth 2027 will bring an estimated 1,000 delegates from Malaysia and abroad to the Borneo Convention Centre Kuching (BCCK) from Jan 27 to 29 next year.
Organised by NAWEM in collaboration with Sarawak-based social enterprise Tanoti Sdn Bhd, the three-day forum will explore how inclusion can drive economic growth by expanding access to education, healthcare, capital, business opportunities, and markets.
Supported by the Ministry of Women, Early Childhood, and Community Wellbeing Development Sarawak and Business Events Sarawak, the forum is expected to attract policymakers, corporate leaders, entrepreneurs, academics, and community representatives, including participants from the BRICS Women’s Business Alliance and ASEAN Women Entrepreneurs Network.
Minister for Women, Early Childhood, and Community Wellbeing Development Sarawak Datuk Seri Fatimah Abdullah said her ministry would support the initiative by involving women entrepreneurs from the B40 group and other vulnerable communities.
She said the forum would give these entrepreneurs opportunities to gain knowledge, learn from successful business operators, and benchmark their businesses against established industry practices.
“The State had held various initiatives to help women and low-income groups generate income through skills training, business grants, and other forms of assistance,” Fatimah said in a press conference held at the Sarawak Legislative Assembly (DUS) here today.
She also highlighted a RM25 million loan facility for women entrepreneurs announced by the Premier in the Sarawak Budget 2027, which she said would help women micro-entrepreneurs progress to the next level.
She said the forum could help participants strengthen their businesses, increase household income and become more financially independent, allowing government assistance to reach other communities in need.
Meanwhile, organising chairperson Datuk Jacqueline Fong said the forum would bring together policymakers, industry leaders, social entrepreneurs, and community representatives to discuss barriers to economic participation and develop practical solutions.
She said inclusion should not be viewed merely as a matter of fairness or social responsibility, but as a driver of economic growth by enabling more people to contribute their skills, knowledge and capabilities.
Discussions will cover corporate inclusivity, social enterprises, indigenous knowledge and the environment, as well as education, healthcare, government and capital. Plenary discussions and thematic sessions will also encourage participants to develop partnerships and turn ideas into practical action.
The forum also aligns with Sarawak’s Post COVID-19 Development Strategy 2030 (PCDS 2030), which aims to build a society that is economically empowered, socially inclusive and environmentally sustainable. — DayakDaily
