MIRI: A group of 20 members of Sabah Women Entrepreneurs and Professionals Association (SWEPA) are now in Miri City to consolidate collaboration with their counterparts, the Women Entrepreneurs and Professionals Association Sarawak (WEPS) on empowering more women in entrepreneurship skills.
SWEPA members were led by their president Sitti Bahaya Damsal. They arrived here on Thursday (Oct 27) for a three-day visit, and they were greeted upon arrival by WEPS’ executive council members led by their president Serawa Budol.
Serawa said she was pleased that members of the two women non-governmental organisations (NGOs) can meet physically to enhance collaboration specially to achieve their main goals on empowering women in entrepreneurial skills.
“WEPS and SWEPA have been working closely on such goals and the recent joint project carried out was the Wanita Empowered (WE) Business Mentorship Programme.
“The two NGOs are also collaborating in a mentoring programme organised by the United States Embassy with Penang Women’s Chambers of Commerce (PWCC).
“It was a six-month nationwide mentoring and training programme to empower established women entrepreneurs and further develop their business skills,” she said in a statement today.
Serawa pointed out that the COVID-19 pandemic had hampered collaboration especially in the past two years.
She hoped through SWEPA’s visit here more women empowering projects could be carried out together.
“SWEPA was registered with the Registrar of Societies (ROS) in May 1994 while WEPS in 1996 – both are aspiring to be forerunners in developing entrepreneurial skills among women while striving to make a difference for its members and the community at large.
“It is also to represent its members at various government authorities and bodies as well as agencies to collect, integrate and disseminate data, statistics, and other information that have relation with the business and professions of the members,” she explained.
Serawa who is also Miri Port general manager said the three-day in Miri will take SWEPA members to various places of interests such as the Piasau Nature Reserve, Coco Cabana, Miri Port Authority Crew Change Terminal, and the Miri handicraft centre.
The delegation also paid a courtesy call to the Deputy Minister of Women, Childhood and Community Wellbeing Development Datuk Rosey Yunus and Miri City mayor Adam Yii.
