Message from NAWEM president

Dear Ladies,

With great pleasure and pride that I announce that two of our NAWEM members received the coveted awards from our Prime Minister, YAB Dato Sri Mohd Najib Tun Abdul Razak recently.

Ms Hooi Lai Lin, CEO of Ken-Rich Chemical Production Sdn Bhd, is the winner of the Anugerah Perdana Menteri Usahawan Wanita 2011, and Datin Paduka Khatijah Sulaiman, President of Cheshire Home, is the winner of the Anugerah Perdana Menteri Penggiat Sosial Wanita 2011.

This is truly a moment for NAWEM to cherish and remember.

Ms Hooi Lai Lin is a Life Member of NAWEM and had served in the committee as Vice President Administration and Datin Paduka Khatijah Sulaiman is one of the founder members of NAWEM.

Congratulations, ladies for keeping the NAWEM flag flying high!

You are the icons of our members and your success will motivate us to keep future prestigious awards within our NAWEM family.

With best wishes

Sarojini Ruth

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

9th Penang Career & Post Graduate Expo

NAWEM, for the first time, list as an endorser of this annual event that attracts 20,000 to 30,000 crowd to the Penang International Sports Arena (PISA) Concourse Area.


This time there is a special section designated as Women Career Fair, where the exhibitors are members of NAWEM-PAN.
A well attended press conference (there was lucky draws) on the event was held on April Fool day at the prestigious Penang E&O Hotel, with State Exco YB Abdul Malik Abul kassim officiating.


Be the first to spot PAN chairman Swee Ee holding up the NAWEM logo!

Make time this weekend to visit the Expo. There is a daily lucky draw at 3pm for you to win an Asus lap top. Exhibition hours are from 9am to 6pm.

To the job seekers, do bring along hard copies of your resumes & certificates as well as CD-ROM & PENDRIVE containing your biodata. This would facilitate your mission.