KUCHING, Sept 7: A Sarawakian entrepreneur and founder of Syarikat Timogah is among 21 finalists shortlisted from 136 applications in 15 countries for the Local Prosperity category in the 2020 Shell LiveWIRE Top Ten Innovators Awards.
Heineken Laluan, who was one of the Sarawak Shell LiveWIRE winners in 2018, founded and now owns Timogah.com which is a digital marketplace that helps small rural farmers sell their produce within local markets, contributing to a sustainable and local food supply chain.
According to Shell Malaysia, the Shell LiveWIRE competition is a partnered project with Shell Global Commercial that focused on ‘Creating a more livable world’ which includes a focus on supporting entrepreneurs throughout the Covid-19 pandemic.
“To this end, transformational solutions that address the direct and indirect impacts of the pandemic will be highly valued,” it said in a press statement today.
In addition to the other awards, Shell Malaysia revealed one Outstanding Achievement Award of USD 10,000 which would be presented to an enterprise that has significantly contributed to the combat with socio-economic impacts of Covid-19.
The top 10 innovator winners for various categories will be winning direct mentoring from Shell staff and the opportunity to integrate within and benefit from vast linkages within Shell’s global network.
“It’s great to see an entrepreneur from Sarawak, competing for the Top Ten Innovators Awards. This is a recognition of the talent and innovation we see every day across our country,” said Shell Malaysia Upstream vice president Ivan Tan.
Meanwhile, Shell GLobal Commercial executive vice president (EVP) Carlos Maurer noted the important roles of entrepreneurs and startups in the society.
“Their energy, drive and innovative thinking act as a catalyst for progress, and I’m proud that Shell is associated with this talented community.
“Covid-19 has presented an extraordinary and complex set of challenges to the world, so it’s right that this year’s programme is particularly focused on supporting entrepreneurs throughout the pandemic crisis.
“We look forward to seeing the eventual Top Ten Innovators’ technologies and solutions flourish,” he said. —DayakDaily
