KUCHING, Nov 26: Sarawakian entrepreneur Heineken Laluan has made Malaysia proud after emerging as the runner-up for the Business Innovation Category in the 2022 Shell LiveWIRE global Top Ten Innovators Award held in Mexico City.
Shell Malaysia in a statement today, said Heineken is the founder and chief executive officer (CEO) of Syarikat Timogah, an e-commerce platform which enables small-scale and rural farmers to market and distribute their produce through online marketing.
Heineken’s win comprised cash money of USD10,000 and a year of global business mentoring and coaching to further upscaling and to develop his business.
“I am truly grateful to be chosen as runner-up for the business innovation category as this has further strengthened my belief on the benefit of my innovative business to the farming community.
“With this achievement, I am determined to continue empowering local communities to build agricultural businesses by exploring the untapped market potential of local natural produce in Borneo.
“I would like to thank Shell for this amazing entrepreneurship programme which has propelled me to develop my business further,” expressed Heineken, who hails from Kuching.
Aside from Heineken, Sabahan entrepreneur Irene Mositol, founder of DumoWongi which helps women generate their own income by teaching them sustainable farming and further supporting them in aggregating their products for larger sales, was awarded winner for the Social Impact category. She won USD20,000 and a year of global business mentoring and coaching.
Meanwhile, Azuar Zainuddin, CEO of Satu Creative from Malaysia was named the runner-up in the Implementing Partner category. Satu Creative is the delivery partner that works with Shell in running the Shell LiveWIRE programme in Malaysia.
Shell Malaysia chairman and Upstream Malaysia senior vice president Dato Ivan Tan expressed his congratulations to Heikenen and all the winners.
“It’s very inspiring to see passionate entrepreneurs from our nation being recognised globally for taking on innovative businesses that grows and empowers not just themselves but also the community in which they live,” he said.
Top Ten Innovators is a worldwide competition open to the alumni of the Shell LiveWIRE programme.
In Malaysia, this programme, which was introduced in 2015 is held annually in Sabah and Sarawak and for the first time this year, is brought to Peninsular Malaysia.
In Sarawak, Shell has been partnering with Tabung Ekonomi Gagasan Anak Sarawak (TEGAS) for Sarawak Shell LiveWIRE since 2017, to benefit the Sarawakian entrepreneurs.
For more information on Shell LiveWIRE Malaysia, log on to https://livewire.shell.com.my/. — DayakDaily
