Malaysia is set to empower 5,00,000 women through its microfinance programs which provide capital and training to start and grow their businesses. This was announced by Her Majesty Raja Zarith Sofiah, Queen of Malaysia.
Her Majesty mentioned that the ‘Digital Divas’ initiative has already catapulted the lives of 1,00,000 women with digital skills. This has enabled them to thrive in an economy of e-commerce sectors and opportunities.
“We have also focused on reducing the gender pay gap through the ‘Equal Pay for the Equal Work’ campaign that raised awareness and prompted many companies to review and rectify their compensation structures”, the Queen said in her speech at the 2024 World Women Economic & Business Summit (WWEBS) on Thursday.
Raja Zarith Sofiah mentioned during the summit that even when challenges are in the midst of marginalized communities, Malaysia is highly committed to bettering the lives of its women and never leaving a women behind in the path to progress towards the goals that would propel the country along the path of gender equality and women’s empowerment.
“To achieve these goals, we need collaborative efforts from all sectors of society. I call upon everyone – leaders, entrepreneurs, and change-makers to join in this noble pursuit. Let us work together to build a world where every woman and girl can reach her full potential,” Her Majesty said.
Her Majesty also added that Malaysia should learn about the best practices in women empowerment initiatives and should adapt them to the country’s context, helping to develop innovative solutions that address it’s unique challenges.
The 2024 World Women Economic & Business Summit (WWEBS) was held by the KSI Strategic Institute for Asia Pacific with the World Digital Chamber and The Economic Club of Kuala Lumpur. The one-day summit talked about the advancement of women in corporate leadership and entrepreneurship.
“When we invest in women, we are investing in the future of our communities and our world. By championing women, we can ignite progress in areas such as economic growth, social development, and innovation,” KSI Strategic Institute for Asia Pacific president Tan Sri Michael Yeoh said.
