Digital Minister Gobind Singh Deo urges all parties to support, empower women in digital world
Digital Minister Gobind Singh Deo has called on all parties to provide ongoing support to women, particularly those from the B40 group, to thrive in e-commerce and the digital sphere.
He said statistics showed that women in the B40 group faced challenges in fully capitalising on opportunities in the digital economy.
'Nearly 220,000 female entrepreneurs have ventured into e-commerce through various platforms, but only 12.63 per cent received training beyond their initial participation,' said Gobind.
'This indicates that many still need continuous guidance, not just to be present on digital platforms, but to compete and thrive.'
He said this in his opening speech at EmpowerHER Digital 2025 at SME Corp Malaysia in Kuala Lumpur this morning.
Gobind added that data showed nearly 57,000 women selling online had recorded no sales, while most earned less than RM1,000.
'I am confident that when more women are given opportunities in the digital economy, it will not only impact individuals but also contribute to community development and positively impact the nation's economy.
'And I don't want this programme (EmpowerHER Digital) to stop here. We must expand EmpowerHER Digital to more states so that more women, whether from urban or rural areas, can benefit from such initiatives.'
Gobind also urged all parties to continue supporting and empowering women in the digital world.
'I am confident that by working together, we can shape a Malaysia that is more inclusive, advanced, and prosperous in this digital era.'
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Business Insider
a day ago
- Business Insider
Meet the founder who turned down $1.5 million — and built one of Africa's fastest-growing companies two years in a row
Most startups chase big cheques to fuel their growth, but Tonye Irims, CEO of Wisolar, took a different route. He turned down a $1.5 million funding offer. Despite that, the South African solar company has continued to rise, earning recognition as one of Africa's fastest-growing companies for two consecutive years. Tonye Irims, CEO of WiSolar, declined a $1.5 million funding offer to maintain his company's values. WiSolar provides digital solar solutions using a pay-as-you-go model in South Africa and Nigeria. The company secured $9 million revolving credit to expand its climate initiative in Nigeria. From failure to opportunity WiSolar wasn't Tonye Irims ' first venture, or his first failure. Before launching the company in 2016, he had tried his hand at two startups: WiMobile in 2006 and FriendsChip, a social payments platform he launched in Texas in 2011. Both eventually failed, but failure didn't stop him. South Africa, where Irims launched WiSolar, was in the thick of an energy crisis. Blackouts were the norm, electricity costs kept climbing, and the grid was anything but reliable. According to the Department of Trade and Industry, the country's economy lost as much as 850 billion rand (about $46 billion) between 2021 and 2024 due to six consecutive shocks. Also, despite being Africa's most industrialized economy, South Africa was still heavily reliant on coal and had only just begun to flirt with renewables. In the middle of the chaos, Irims saw a gap and moved fast to fill it. A fresh take on solar power WiSolar is a digital solar company that lets people in South Africa and Nigeria pay for solar power as they use it. The company uses a model called a power purchase agreement (PPA), where WiSolar installs and looks after the solar system in a customer's home. Then, through the app, the customer buys power per kilowatt-hour through the WiSolar app, much like topping up mobile airtime. ' This way, people can get solar power without paying anything upfront, ' Irims told Business Insider Africa. The simplicity of the model clicked, especially in underserved communities in South Africa, where reliable energy is scarce and buying solar systems is even scarcer. But the early years were tough. ' We had a hard time convincing people to believe in us,' Irims said. ' We were struggling to get stakeholder buy-in, educating customers on how solar electricity works, operating with almost zero capital to execute.' At one point, he even tried to sell the business and the first outlet. ' No one thought it was worth anything then.' Wisolar Things started to change in 2018 when he got a small seed fund of about R60,000 ($4,000). That money helped him travel to Shenzhen, China, to understand solar tech and build supplier relationships. In 2023, WiSolar got a big offer, a $1.5 million loan from South Africa's Industrial Development Corporation (IDC). But Irims turned it down. He felt the conditions were too restrictive and risked limiting the company's growth and compromising its core values and mission. The IDC's loan offer, made under its energy resilience scheme, came with a terminal drawdown date of March 31, 2025, and a ten-year repayment term. It required monthly capital repayments starting from the drawdown date, alongside excessive disclosure requirements and offered little in terms of value-added support. For many early-stage African startups, saying no to money is almost unthinkable. Capital is scarce, and founders are often under pressure to take what they can get. Raising fund is especially tough in the energy space where WiSolar operates, unlike fintech, which is typically easier to scale. But Irims believes the wrong money can kill more than it can grow. 'If you're an investor who just has megalithic views. If you're just in it to make a quick buck, not looking at the long-term vision of the company, that is a red flag for me. You need to have a long-term view, play the long game, and look at the social impacts as well, like how many jobs it's going to create, how it's going to impact the environment, ' he stressed. ' They wanted too much,' Irims told me. ' Our IP is very sacrosanct to us. Commercials are fine, but certain IPs we cannot disclose. If you start pressing for that IP information or turn us into an educational class, it becomes a bit of a turnoff. That's not the kind of investor we want.' Who is an Ideal investor? For Irims, the right investor brings more than cash, they bring vision, access, and trust. Funding remains one of WiSolar's biggest challenges, not because capital isn't out there, but because the right kind of capital is rare. 'Finding partners who get your mission, who are aligned with your values and can open doors to markets, that's tough. A lot of funds don't even have the mandate for what we do.' WiSolar Thriving against the odds Walking away from that IDC deal didn't stop WiSolar. The cleantech company now operates in both South Africa and Nigeria, two of Africa's biggest energy markets, and keeps expanding through a mix of B2B and residential offerings. Last year, it secured $9 million in revolving credit from Chinese institutions last year to back its Climate Zero Initiative, and deploy solar energy across 10 Nigerian states. It has been ranked as one of Africa's fastest-growing companies for two consecutive years by the Financial Times and Statista, which tracked compound annual growth from 2020 to 2023. So, what advice does Irims have for entrepreneurs thinking about giving up? ' It takes a heart of steel' he says. ' You'll face doubts, rejections, and naysayers, and well-meaning supporters too. You have to know the difference. '
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Yahoo
Microsoft reclaims top spot, Omada IPO, Vail trims outlook
Market Domination co-host Josh Lipton tracks today's top moving stocks and biggest market stories in this Market Minute. Microsoft (MSFT) stock opens at a fresh all-time high, reclaiming the title of world's most valuable company after surpassing Nvidia (NVDA) in market cap. Omada Health (OMDA) makes a strong Nasdaq debut, as the company cites strong growth momentum. Catch Yahoo Finance's full interview with Omada Health CEO Sean Duffy. Meanwhile, Vail Resorts (MTN) tops third quarter earnings expectations but trims its full-year EBITDA outlook due to a $9 million charge tied to a CEO transition. Stay up to date on the latest market action, minute-by-minute, with Yahoo Finance's Market Minute. It's time for Yahoo! Finance's market minute. US stocks rising as the S&P 500 flirts with that 6,000 level. The move higher comes amid a better than expected jobs report for May. Tech giant Microsoft opening at a fresh record on Friday, shares hitting a new all-time high above $470. The company also surpassing Nvidia's market cap, taking back the spot as the largest company in the world. Amana Health shares rising in its public debut on the NASDAQ. Shares opening at $23 a share, higher than its pricing of $19 per share. CEO telling Yahoo! Finance that they felt a pull to come into the market and love the growth they are seeing in the business. And Vail Resorts topping earnings estimates in the third quarter, but trimming back on its full-year outlook. The ski resort operator slashing its total reported EBITDA forecast, which includes an estimated $9 million one-time charge related to the company's previously announced CEO transition. And that's your Yahoo! Finance market minute. For more on what's trending on Yahoo! Finance, scan the QR code below us. Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Yahoo
HOTELEX 2025 Successfully Concludes: International Attendance Surpasses 10,000, Hosted Buyer Program Sets a New Industry Benchmark!
SHANGHAI, June 6, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- HOTELEX 2025 concluded on April 2 at the National Exhibition and Convention Center (Shanghai), covering 400,000 square meters and attracting 284,581 visitors. International attendance reached 12,447, a 34.2% increase from last year, marking HOTELEX's growing role as a key global hub for the hospitality and catering industry. A standout highlight this year was the success of the HOTELEX 2025 Hosted Buyer Program, which brought over 200 high-profile buyers from Malaysia, South Korea, Kazakhstan, Hong Kong (China), Brazil, and the United Kingdom to the show floor. Representing key sectors such as luxury hotel groups, branded F&B chains, import distributors, and regional procurement agencies, these buyers engaged in in-depth business discussions with top-tier exhibitors. With tailored matchmaking, curated meeting schedules, and dedicated services, the program enabled efficient, high-quality interactions and facilitated tangible international sourcing opportunities. Its success further strengthened HOTELEX's position as a premier global platform for hospitality and foodservice trade. Looking ahead to HOTELEX 2026 which will be held on 30th March - 2nd April at National Exhibition and Convention Center (Shanghai), the industry awaits new innovations, expanded collaborations, and broader global participation. Stay tuned for more—and we look forward to welcoming you next year. Booth Inquiry: Media Cooperation & Hosted Buyer Program: View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE HOTELEX Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
