WIOE power women entrepreneurs through the orange economy

KUCHING, 9 Oct: Women in Orange Economy (WIOE) programme continues efforts to empower women entrepreneurs in Sarawak by connecting creative industry activists to open up new cooperation and business opportunities.

WIOE founder Sharnaz Saberi said the programme, which has been active for the past two years, focuses on efforts to build an ecosystem of women entrepreneurship through creative fields including culinary, fashion and music.

He said the Prelude Soiree celebration with celebrity cef, Datuk Dr Redzuawan Ismail or Chef Wan, was among the efforts to continue the agenda.

"Through the orange economy, we want to connect creative industry activists so that they can work together and develop new opportunities in their respective fields", he said.

He said this at the Prodigy's 16th Anniversary Hi-Tea Festival which also saw the launch of WIOE's fourth series, here today.

Sharnaz hopes that multilateral support can be continued to strengthen the women's entrepreneurship ecosystem, thus helping them develop their potential in creative industries.

Meanwhile, Chairman of the Bumiputera Sarawak Chamber of Businesses (DUBS) Kuching Branch, Khairulnizam Mohamed Khalid said that women entrepreneurs need wider access to markets, financing, technology, guidance and strategic business networks in order to grow.

She said that talent and creativity alone are not enough without support and opportunities for women entrepreneurs to lead, innovate and create economic value.

"We want to see more women not only participate in the creative economy, but also lead, innovate and create meaningful economic value for our communities.

"Through their contributions, we can further strengthen Sarawak's economy and support the vision of Prime Minister Sarawak through the Post COVID-19 Development Strategy (PCDS) 2030 towards building a prosperous, inclusive and sustainable Sarawak", he said.

In attendance were the Chairman of Sarawak Media Group (SMG), Dato Norhyati Ismail; Founder of Women Leadership Foundation, Datuk Zunaidah Idris; as well as Datin Rosemarie Wong Jabu, wife of Deputy Minister of Youth, Sports and Entrepreneurship Development, Datuk Gerald Rentap Jabu.