AWE's new cohort launched, Rina Harun sets RM1 million sales target for entrepreneurs

KUALA LUMPUR - The Academy for Women Entrepreneurs (AWE) launched its third cohort to help women venture into business, especially those who lost their job in the pandemic and is set to achieve its RM1 million sales target a year after completion of programme.

Women, Family and community development minister Datuk Seri Rina Harun said the ministry had set the RM1 million target for the participants to encourage them to do better in the business.

The target would need to be met within a year after they have finished the programme.

“The RM1 million target is achievable because I have met some entrepreneurs and they have started to achieve their RM1 million sales within eight months of starting businesses.

“So, this is a challenge for Women Entrepreneur Network Association (WENA) and I believe they will be able to meet the target,” she said during the launching of the third AWE’s cohort at Perdana KLCC Hotel today.

Rina had earlier officiated the event together with U.S. Embassy Chargé d’Affaires Michael Newbill.

Commenting further, Rina hoped that the target set for the participants would encourage the budding entrepreneurs to do better in starting and planning for their businesses.

The AWE’s cohort also includes lessons on branding, coaching and networking.

This will be the third year of AWE in Malaysia which will lead to the inaugural of the AWE East Asia Pacific Summit scheduled to be held in March 2023 where women from ten countries in the region will gather in Kuala Lumpur to celebrate their achievements

Meanwhile, Newbill added that the AWE programme was made possible due to good partnership with strategic partners by training over 200 participants and entrepreneurs in the country since two years and a half ago.

Focusing on the summit, he said it would be focusing on helping the participants financially, assisting them in building networks, and helping them grow their businesses through their key method, which was mentorship.

“We invited 10 participants from 10 other countries to share their best practices to mentor each other and it is an exciting opportunity to bring all entrepreneurs together to open up business opportunities,” he added.

The programme was organised under the White House-led Women's Global Development and Prosperity Initiative with the aim to help women reach their full economic potential and create conditions for increased stability, security, and prosperity.

AWE is a part of the embassy's Wanita Empowered campaign to promote equality in opportunity, support growth and strengthen economic ties between the U.S and Malaysia that take interest in women creating a ripple effect that yields multiple benefits, not only for individual women, but also for families, communities, and countries.

In the last two years, AWE has empowered 80 women to grow their businesses while navigating the pandemic.