Latest news with #AseanWomenEconomicSummit
New Straits Times
25-05-2025
- Business
- New Straits Times
DPM Fadillah calls for Asean members to strengthen energy cooperation
KUALA LUMPUR: Asean member states must strengthen regional energy cooperation as part of a shared prosperity strategy, said Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof. Fadillah, who is also energy transition and water transformation Minister, said cross-border partnerships in the energy sector are already seen through collaborations between Laos, Malaysia, Thailand and Singapore. "For instance, Laos supplies energy to Singapore, but it must pass through Thailand and Malaysia, so Laos pays a wheeling fee for transmitting through our power grid. "However, sometimes during winter, water sources freeze and the supply is disrupted. "At that point, Laos may draw power from Thailand and Malaysia to continue supplying Singapore. "This shows how Asean member states support and help one another," he told reporters after the Luncheon Power Talk session - Shared Prosperity: The New Imperative for Asean's Economic Growth held in conjunction with the Asean Women Economic Summit (AWES) 2025 here today. Singapore currently imports up to 100 megawatts (MW) of renewable energy from Laos through a cross-border initiative called the Lao PDR-Thailand-Malaysia-Singapore Power Integration Project (LTMS-PIP). This will double to a maximum of 200MW of renewable hydropower, with supply from Malaysia as well. Fadillah said Malaysia remains committed to implementing the National Energy Transition Roadmap (NETR) and is actively working towards realising the Asean Power Grid to establish a connected and sustainable energy ecosystem. Citing the recent gas pipeline explosion in Putra Heights, Fadillah said Malaysia had entered into discussions with Thailand to supply gas to the country's northern region, following the shutdown of the affected pipeline. "This is how we help one another. This is what we call shared prosperity. "Only through sharing and mutual support can Asean become stronger and more competitive," he said. Fadillah said that one of the country's key challenges is ensuring a stable energy supply or baseload, which cannot be guaranteed by weather-dependent sources such as solar and wind. As such, Malaysia currently relies on coal, gas and diesel. However, he added, the world is now moving towards clean energy sources such as hydrogen, nuclear, hydropower, and biogas produced by palm oil waste and industrial by-products. Meanwhile, Fadillah said Malaysia remains committed to empowering women in all aspects of national development, including entrepreneurship, employment and capacity building, in line with the shared prosperity approach. He said this commitment is evident through efforts to promote women's empowerment, particularly in education policy, with women now dominating higher education institutions and increasingly excelling in technical and professional fields. Fadillah added that the shared prosperity agenda extends to all segments of society, including women and those living in rural or marginalised areas. "We must create space and opportunities for women and groups that may have been left behind. "For example, those in remote rural areas... we need to close the gaps, including the digital divide, development disparities, and the gap between policy and implementation," he said. The session was moderated by Kuok Brothers Sdn Bhd managing director and K3 Ventures founder Kuok Meng Xiong. UOB Malaysia is the main sponsor of AWES 2025, with Kuok Brothers Sdn Bhd as the empowerment partner. The two-day inaugural AWES 2025, which began Saturday, was held in conjunction with the 46th Asean Summit, held under Malaysia's 2025 Chairmanship. It was attended by over 700 delegates representing government, business, and civil society across Asean. Themed "Empowering Women, Energising Asean: Pioneering Economic Integration for a Resilient Tomorrow", AWES highlighted the urgent need to position women at the forefront of Asean's economic transformation, particularly in addressing current challenges such as global tariff wars, digital transformation, and sustainable development. It also featured discussion and strategic brainstorming sessions, leadership lab and mentorship programme. – BERNAMA
The Star
25-05-2025
- Business
- The Star
Harnessing AWES-ome female talent
Empowering move: Tengku Zafrul and Women Leadership Foundation founder and chairman Datuk Dr Hafsah Hashim jointly launching the Asean Women Economic Summit 2025 in Kuala Lumpur. — Bernama KUALA LUMPUR: Asean's first Women's Economic Empowerment Centre (AWES), which will make economic potential and opportunities accessible to all including micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs), youth and women, will be set up in Kuala Lumpur. Investment, Trade and Industry Minister Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Abdul Aziz said this aligns with the theme of Malaysia's chairmanship of Asean this year, which is 'Inclusivity and Sustainability'. 'In short, as Asean Chair for 2025, we are placing inclusive growth at the heart of South-East Asia's policies,' he said at the Asean Women Economic Summit, Bernama reported. Tengku Zafrul said while challenges facing the association's individual countries are unique, efforts must be made to ensure region-wide solutions. 'This is where AWES can play a stronger role and as Asean Chair, Malaysia looks forward to the centre,' he said. Tengku Zafrul hoped the centre would generate quick wins to create gender-inclusive standards and policies, as well as improve access to finance for the region. 'If we were to create a US$1bil (RM4.24bil) fund for Asean, how should it be governed to ensure broad-based impact, transparency and access for women-led businesses? 'A lot of work lies ahead. One summit alone won't solve all the challenges facing women. But the centre contributes to a worthy cause that has been championed for decades,' he added. Acknowledging that the odds are often stacked against women, he said Asean could reverse this by creating an environment for women to survive, thrive, enter or re-enter the workforce, start or sustain businesses and avoid having to choose between motherhood and a career. 'This is the roadmap for Malaysia and Asean's future prosperity,' he said. Sharing Malaysia's experience, Tengku Zafrul said Malaysia's Madani Economy framework emphasises sustainability, prosperity and inclusivity, and places women's empowerment at the heart of national development. In his own ministry, various concrete measures have been implemented, including introducing gender-responsive provisions in all new trade agreements and establishing a RM200mil fund specifically for women entrepreneurs in high-growth sectors. 'I should also add that in my ministry, women make up around 69% of the top management. Our chief negotiator on US tariffs, and one of our deputy secretary-generals is a lady. 'We also have many others who are highly experienced,' he added.
