Include more incentives for women entrepreneurs - Shahrizat

The government should give more incentives to women entrepreneurs in the Budget 2015 that will be tabled on Oct 10, said adviser on women entrepreneurship and professional development in the Prime Minister's Department, Datuk Seri Shahrizat Abdul Jalil.

Shahrizat, who is also Wanita Umno chief, said these should include an increase in the number of loans for setting up businesses, which was among the main problems faced by women in expanding their ventures.

"We acknowledge capital is one of the main obstacles faced by women involved in business as it is difficult to get bank loans. We hope agencies like National Entrepreneur Group Economic Fund (Tekun Nasional) and Amanah Ikhtiar Malaysia (AIM) can provide loans of at least RM100,000 to start their business," she said.

Speaking to reporters after officiating the Pasar Wanita (Pasarnita) 'Car Boot Sale' here Sunday, she said a capital of RM5,000 was no longer enough to start a business due to the rising costs.

She suggested that City Hall provided a special site to facilitate the marketing of the women entrepreneurs' products.

The Pasarnita at Bandar Tun Razak provides free rental sites for small-scale women traders following similar incentives being previously provided at Wangsa Maju.

The project, a cooperation between the Women Entrepreneurship and Professional Development Department and City Hall, targeted women in the urban areas and the outskirts to start businesses from their car bonnets without incurring rental costs for sites.