KUALA LUMPUR, March 7 — The Academy for Women Entrepreneurs (AWE) first-ever regional summit was being held in Kuala Lumpur from today, it has brought together 200 successful women entrepreneurs and business leaders to foster greater networking among women-led businesses across the Indo-Pacific region.
The summit, hosted by United States Embassy in Kuala Lumpur starting from today until March 9, is held in conjunction with International Women’s Day, providing participants from various countries in the region including Malaysia, New Zealand, Philippines, Singapore and Taiwan with the knowledge, networks and access they need to launch and expand successful businesses within their communities and worldwide.
Women, Family and Community Development Minister Datuk Seri Nancy Shukri, when launching the summit, said that AWE together with the Women Entrepreneur Network Association (WENA), has benefitted many women entrepreneurs, providing them access to education and mentorship.
“I believe education is the key to uplifting women and providing them equal access and opportunities on the playing field.
“I look forward to learning more about the Summit’s outcomes and how Malaysian women entrepreneurs here can continue to scale up their businesses and provide further avenues for more women to participate and achieve economic success,” she said.
Also present were US Deputy Asssistant Secretary for Policy Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, Rafik Mansour, US Ambassador to Malaysia, Brian McFeeters and AWE Malaysia Implementer, Nuraizah Syamsul Baharin.
Rafik in his remarks during the event highlighted that AWE has empowered over 25,000 women entrepreneurs worldwide since its launch in 2019.
“From improving artisans’ livelihoods through digital marketing to facilitating access to mental health care, AWE alumni have demonstrated the importance of investing in women-led businesses to achieve sustainable growth across the Indo-Pacific region,” he said.
Meanwhile, Nuraizah Syamsul said the US Embassy here and WENA launched AWE in Malaysia in 2020, empowering more than 150 Malaysian women entrepreneurs by helping them to launch and grow successful businesses.
She said during the summit, participants exchanged knowledge and best practices, expanded their capacity and networked to foster growth, innovation and sustainability.
US President Joe Biden’s administration has outlined that the Indo-Pacific is a strategic geographic region for US foreign policy engagement as part of its National Security Strategy, and the AWE Summit supports broader US engagement in the region.
— Bernama
