Ramanan introduces RM50 million fund to support Indian female entrepreneurs

Amanah Ikhtiar Malaysia (AIM) has taken a significant step towards empowering Indian women entrepreneurs with the launch of the Prosperity Empowerment and A New Normal for Indian Women (PENN) programme, which includes a special fund of RM50 million. This initiative, announced by Deputy Minister of Entrepreneur Development and Cooperatives, Datuk Ramanan Ramakrishnan, aims to benefit over 7,100 new Indian Sahabat Usahawan.

The allocation of funds from AIM’s internal resources will increase the total beneficiaries of the AIM Prosperity Loan Scheme to 10,200, including 3,100 existing individuals. Ramanan highlighted that this initiative aligns with the government’s vision to ensure that no citizen is left behind in the nation-building process.

During the announcement of the fund at AIM’s headquarters, Ramanan expressed his confidence in AIM’s ability to cultivate more micro-entrepreneurs within the Indian community through the PENN programme. He emphasized the importance of empowering Indian women in line with Malaysia MADANI.

Indian women entrepreneurs welcomed the news with enthusiasm, seeing it as a great opportunity to enhance their businesses and performance. Retail shop owner S.Subratha Devisubramaniam expressed her gratitude for the assistance, stating her intention to use the funds to open a new branch. Travel agent A. Krisnaveni encouraged Indian women to seize the opportunity to venture into business and tap into their entrepreneurial potential.

Applications for the PENN programme can be submitted starting from Monday at the 124 AIM Branch Offices nationwide. With this initiative, AIM is paving the way for Indian women to thrive in the business world and contribute to the nation’s growth and economy.