Women Entrepreneurs To Gather In Penang

This is the press release we prepared for the event...

GEORGE TOWN: Talks on business development, funding, grants and export markets as well as sharing of real success stories of women entrepreneurs are among the highlights of a full day event this Saturday, Oct 8.

The Chicken Rice Shop with some 60 outlets nationwide would have its founder Mrs. Gaik Wong lead a morning sharing session at the “Opportunity for Women Entrepreneurs” event to be held at Tanjung Bungah Beach Hotel.

An afternoon session is to feature Ken-Rich Chemical Production CEO Hooi Lai Lin, the inaugural recipient of the Prime Minister's Award for Women Entrepreneurs 2011. Both women are from the National Association of Women Entrepreneurs Malaysia (NAWEM). 
 
“They are dynamic, award-winning entrepreneurs and active NAWEM members, who are always ready and available to mentor young entrepreneurs and share their experiences with them,” said event organising chairperson Wendy Wong of the Penang Affiliates of NAWEM (PAN).

PAN is organising the “Opportunities for Women Entrepreneurs” event in collaboration with government agencies, to help highlight the various business development programmes, grants and funds available in Malaysia, she added.

Other speakers in this programme-packed event include SME Corp Malaysia Penang director Tajul Ariffin Jamaluddin, to update on development programmes for small and medium enterprises. Malaysian External Trade Development Corporation (MATRADE) northern director Suresh Kumar would speak on helping entrepreneurs develop and expand their export markets.

The Ministry of Women, Family and Community Development would have its deputy director-general Che Azizah Che Rashid and its Penang director Yusman Hambali Ahmad giving presentation. Northern branch manager Jais Abu Hassan of Pembangunan Sumber Manusia Berhad (under the Ministry of Human Resources) would also be presenting.

The other speakers are Malaysian Industrial Development Authority (MIDA) Penang director Zabidah Daud; Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation (MOSTI) deputy secretary (funding) Suhaimi Hamzah; Malaysia Productivity Corporation (MPC) northern director Sarimah Misman; and RHB Bank assistant vice president (SME commercial business development) Khairil Anwar.

“NAWEM and PAN want to help broadcast the numerous private and public grants and business funding and opportunities available in Malaysia to entrepreneurs, and especially to the women entrepreneurs,” said PAN chairperson Ong Swe Ee.

“We are here to assist women entrepreneurs grow and create business empires. This event is a platform for us to network and share success stories and experiences,” she added.

Business and business-minded women (men too) can join this full day event for RM70 per person to cover buffet lunch and two tea breaks. NAWEM members have contributed door gifts, including restaurant and beauty product vouchers, worth more than RM100 for each attendee.

There are also limited number of display stations available during the event for entrepreneurs to showcase their products and services.

Details of the “Opportunities for Women Entrepreneurs” event are available at its blog site www.penangwomenentrepreneurs.blogspot.com and NAWEM website www.nawem.org.my, or email nawempan@yahoo.com or call 019-457 9471 (Wendy) or 012-477 0873 (Swe Ee). 
 

The Happenings on OCT 8

It looks like a power-packed full day for business and business-minded women (men can join too) attending the "Opportunities for Women Entrepreneurs" event, PAN is organizing this coming Saturday.

Just take a look at the almost completed program below. All the presentations include Q & A session:

8.00 – 9.00 a.m - Registration & early networking
9.00 – 9.05a.m  - Welcome address by NAWEM president Sarojini Ruth
9.05 – 9.15 a.m - Opening address

9.15 – 10.00 a.m - Presentation by Women Development Department
                            Deputy director general Che Azizah Che Rashid
                            Penang director Yusman Hambali Ahmad
                           
10.00 – 10.15 a.m - Tea break & networking

10.15 – 11.00 a.m - Presentation by SME Corp Malaysia
                            Penang directorTajul Ariffin Jamaluddin
                            “Financial Guide for SMEs” presentation to PAN Exco

11.00 – 11.45 a.m - Sharing session by Mrs.Gaik Wong
                            Brand Owner of “Chicken Rice shop”
                            TCRS Restaurants Sdn Bhd
                            
11.45 – 12.30 p.m - Presentation by Pembangunan Sumber Manusia 
                            Berhad (under Ministry of Human Resources)
                            Northern branch manager Jais Abu Hasan 

12.30 – 1.30 p.m - Lunch & networking

1.30 – 2.15 p.m - Presentation by the 2011 Prime Minister's Award for 
                        Women Entrepreneurs inaugural recipient Hooi Lai 
                        Lin
                        CEO Ken-Rich Chemical Production Sdn. Bhd
                       
2.15 – 3.30 p.m - Panel Discussion with Q & A featuring:

• MATRADE northern director Suresh Kumar 
• Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation (MOSTI) deputy secretary (funding) Suhaimi Hamzah
• MIDA Penang director Zabidah Daud
• Malaysia Productivity Corporation (MPC) northern director Hajah Sarimah Misman
• Comprehensive Enrichment Centre director Andal Krishnan (as moderator)

3.30 – 4.15 p.m - Presentation by bank

4.15 – 4.35 p.m - Closing Address
                         Appreciation by PAN chairperson Ong Swe Ee,
                         Thank you by organizing chairperson Wendy Wong

4.35 – 5.00 p.m - Tea Break & networking

NOTE: throughout the event there is a mini trade fair with display stations for women entrepreneurs to showcase their products and services.

Lesson fr The Chicken Rice Shop story

Past a decade, The Chicken Rice Shop (TCRS) chain restaurant today boasts of over 60 Malaysian outlets plus more in Singapore, Philippines and Taiwan. 

Listen first hand to the TCRS story from its founder Mrs. Gaik Wong, who is an active NAWEM member and always ready and available to mentor young entrepreneurs and share her experiences with them.

This 2004 recipient of The Innovative Woman Entrepreneur Of The Year Award, together with her only daughter Kah Lin, had opened the first TCRS restaurant in year 2000.

Gaik Wong was confident that 'Hainanese chicken rice' can be developed into a chain store

Funds & Grants for Malaysian Women Entrepreneurs

Women entrepreneurs just starting out or wanting to expand their business often face the stumbling block of not having enough capital to move on.

In Malaysia, where and how do you go about finding business funding and grants?

Apart from the bank loans, public funding assistance are available through various government agencies. What are those agencies and the types of business assistance they provide?

How do you qualify your business to become eligible for bank loans, other funds and grants?

Quite a few questions needing answers there.
Come get your questions answered, and doubts regarding business funding cleared, at a one-day event this Oct. 8, organised by PAN or Penang Affiliates of NAWEM (National Association of Women Entrepreneurs Malaysia).

We have line-up speakers from government agencies and bank to share on business funding in Malaysia. The Chicken Rice Shop CEO would be there as well to share on how she grows the popular restaurant franchise.

More importantly attending women entrepreneurs get to network and share with each other their varied experiences in securing capital, big or small, to grow their businesses.

We designed this 'Opportunities for Women Entrepreneurs' event to gather some 150 business and business-minded ladies for a fun and fruitful day by the beach.

Again the venue is Tanjung Bunga Beach Hotel, Penang on Oct 8 from 8.30am - 5pm. There is a RM70 fee to cover a buffet lunch plus two tea breaks. Please confirm your seat by Sept. 25, 2011 as we want to ensure sufficient door gifts for everyone.

Btw, to those of you wanting to showcase your products or services, the event offers 20 display stations (72" x 18" table + 2 chairs) on first come first serve basis, and please bring your own table cloth ya. The charge is RM150 (non-member) or RM100 (PAN member) per display station.

Please leave a comment for details or email yatitalha@peoplestring.com
See you all on OCT 8!

Woman Entrepreneur as a Career

PAN members (L to R) Swe Ee, Wendy, Pauline and Crystal at the earlier event press conference.


WOMAN entrepreneur & NAWEM-PAN treasurer Wendy Wong reports overwhelming response to her company event 'Career and Postgraduate Expo' on April 9 & 10 at the Penang International Sports Arena (PISA).

Some 29,105 visitors came. There were 59 participating organizations setting up 71 exhibitor booths.


Just look at them crowd at the PISA concourse

Among the exhibitors were PAN members who enjoyed free booths (a privilege only members enjoy:) ) - courtesy of the organizer PenExpo Events S/B. Thank you PenExpo! NAWEM officially endorsed the event this year.


PAN exhibitors posing with president Saro.

NAWEM president Sarojini Ruth Rajahser made a trip from Kuala Lumpur to attend the expo opening. She later met and catch up with PAN members on site before going further north to Sungai Petani, her home town.


A happy president Saro (right) at the VIP seats during the expo opening

Let's Network Some...

The venue...at the opening of the 9th Career & Postgraduate Expo (Women's Career Fair too) 2011 at Penang PISA.

This invitation goes out to all of you women entrepreneurs, the male version too, and everyone else keen on a career, a change of career or additional career to boost your income streams.

It is starting at 3pm this Saturday April 9. Please be early for the registration at 2.45pm. Without registering you can't be eligible for the lucky draws.

Agenda

02.45 pm - Arrival of Guests & Registration
- Lucky Draw Session 1
- Arrival of Guest of Honour
- Speech by Mr. Francis Wong
Managing Director
PenExpo Events Sdn Bhd
- Speech by Guest of Honour
Y.B. Tuan Abdul Malik bin Abul Kassim
Penang State EXCO
- Opening Ceremony
- Souvenir Presentation
- Lucky Draw Session 2
- Exhibition Booth Tour
- Light Refreshment
Adjourn