Oleh/By : DATO' SERI DR. MAHATHIR BIN MOHAMAD
Tempat/Venue : ISTANA HOTEL, KUALA LUMPUR
Tarikh/Date : 07/09/95
Tajuk/Title : LAUNCHING OF THE 43RD LES FEMMES
CHEFS D"ENTREPRISES
It is indeed a pleasure for me to be here
this morning and to be amongst prominent women
entrepreneurs from all over the world, to officiate
this Congress of World Association of Women
Entrepreneurs.
2. The theme of this conference `Moving Forward-
Business Opportunities and Challenges in the 21st
Century' is most apt and relevant particularly in the
context of Malaysia's efforts to become a developed
nation by 2020.
3. I would like also to congratulate Les Femmes Chefs
D'Entreprises Mondiales (FCEM) for providing a platform
for women entrepreneurs worldwide to exchange views and
experiences and to identify potential business
opportunities. In the process a strong network will
develop.
4. Malaysia is a country in a hurry. Its population
is relatively small. Already we are short of human
resource and this is hampering our economic growth. We
need to have every Malaysian contribute fully towards
the development of the country. The advent of
Malaysian women entrepreneurs, some of whom are truly
enterprising and successful, is most welcome. The
Government fully supports their forays into business,
as we are convinced that they have much to contribute
to the success of their country.
5. The Malaysian economy recorded high growth rates
for the past eight consecutive years and this has
stimulated business developments in the country. This
success is due, in part, to the choice mix of policies
of our country, particularly its New Economic Policy,
National Development Policy, the Look East Policy, the
National Industrial Policy, the Malaysia Incorporated
concept and Privatisation policies. All these policies
have accelerated and reinforced the dynamism of the
private sector, which in turn has contributed towards
our rapid economic growth.
6. A hard-working and easily trainable work force has
also played a critical role. They are a responsible
lot who appreciate the effect of growth amidst
stability on their earnings. As a result the country
has earned international recognition as one of the key
business and financial centres within this region
offering numerous business opportunities. Our
businessmen and businesswomen are now a lot more
independent, resilient and are more willing to take
calculated risks at home and abroad. They are
knowledgeable, dedicated and committed to building up
their companies and corporations. They are now
important players in the economic mainstream of
national development and are continuously on the look-
out for new business ventures. They have become
important linchpins in the country's current economic
progress and will definitely play a major role in
thrusting Malaysia confidently into the 21st century.
7. The Government is fully aware that entrepreneurs
play a very vital role in maintaining the tempo of a
vibrant and robust economy. It was with this
realisation that the Government set up a new Ministry
of Entrepreneurial Development with the view to
providing guidance and intensifying the development of
better quality entrepreneurs in the country. The
Ministry is also expected to seek feedback from the
business community and to interact with them. Women
entrepreneurs have not been forgotten. Rather the
facilities and opportunities offered by the government
are available to them as much as they are to their male
counterparts.
8. In this era of globalisation and rapid social and
economic changes, no country can achieve economic well-
being by closing its borders and restricting the flow
of goods, capital, technology and people. It is within
this scenario that Malaysian entrepreneurs should
develop a more global approach so that their access to
the global markets is ensured.
9. Entrepreneurs should take note that relative
smallness does not prevent individuals and corporations
from competing effectively in the world market.
Strength can be developed based on lower operating
cost, mobility, market diversity and segmentation,
speciality and quality products and most importantly,
establishing alliances. The Government set up MATRADE
to lend a helping hand to Malaysian companies to
penetrate global markets effectively. Entrepreneurs
should bear in mind that competing globally does not
result in immediate profit. They, therefore, must be
ready to suffer losses initially. Unless these
companies are willing to take long term risks and
participate in the internationalisation of commerce and
industry, instead of taking the easier route through
the stock exchange and property market, Malaysians will
not be able to create a strong generation of
entrepreneurs in international trade and industry in
the future.
10. However, I am confident that armed with this high
entrepreneurial spirit, good work ethics, perseverance
and extensive networking, entrepreneurs in general, and
women entrepreneurs in particular, can venture and
establish themselves successfully overseas. They must
identify the products and countries in which they are
interested and start to form smart partnerships.
11. Malaysia has been successful in attracting Foreign
Direct Investments (FDI) with huge capital investments
by major corporations worldwide. However, the country
is yet to become a major source of FDI as compared to
South Korea, Taiwan and Hong Kong. The ability to
invest overseas is a strong reflection of the level of
progress of a country. We should expect no immediate
gain for the country as a result of investment by
Malaysians in foreign countries. But there will,
eventually, be substantial returns.
12. Under the New Economic Policy and the National
Development Policy, the Government gives women equal
opportunity in education and career development. In
the professional fields, women have performed well, if
not better, than their male counterparts. Some of
these women professionals have taken great risks when
leaving lucrative jobs in order to become
entrepreneurs. Although the numbers may still be
small, the indications are that there will be many more
women entreprenuers in the country in the foreseeable
future.
13. In an effort to accelerate the increase, the
Government, through the Ministry of Entrepreneur
Development, is working together with major private
corporations and Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs)
to create new start-up opportunities for women
entrepreneurs. The opportunities are much related to
skills and willingness to become owner operators to
ensure that their business ventures grow
systematically.
14. Women entrepreneurs venturing into the
manufacturing sectors can also seek the assistance of
Perbadanan Usahawan Nasional Berhad (PUNB) or the
National Entrepreneur Organisation Limited. In the
short period of three years of PUNB's establishment, it
has successfully nurtured and developed a number of
successful women entrepreneurs in industry. PUNB's
venture capital approach, with integrated assistance,
is useful to those who venture into new strategic
business areas. Its objective is to develop quality
and resilient entrepreneurs and towards this end,
entrepreneurs are encouraged to imbibe PUNB's high
standards of entrepreneurial culture.
15. I am confident that women entrepreneurs who are
positive in their work approach, mindset and outlook
will be successful in finding a suitable niche for
themselves in the global market.
16. On this note, I now have great pleasure to declare
open this congress.
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