| James Kon |
THREE local women received the prestigious ASEAN Women Entrepreneur Award 2018 for their outstanding achievements in business.
The awards were presented to Hajah Mordiah binti Haji Jackia, Hajah Hadijah binti Haji Md Hussaini and Hajah Siti Aidah binti Pengarah Dato Paduka Haji Othman by the ASEAN Women Entrepreneurs’ Network (AWEN) in a ceremony held at Bangkok, Thailand.
Minister of Social Development and Human Security of Thailand General Anantaporn Kanjanarat presented the awards.
Hajah Siti Aidah, who owns Syarikat Jidah which produces the Brunei traditional textile Kain Tenunan said, “This is the first time that I have won the award which is indeed a great honour for me.”
Advising the youth in the country, she said, “I hope they will continue to work hard and achieve success, and to face the challenge of current tough business atmosphere.”
Hajah Hadijah, Managing Director of Halim Plaza Hotel in Tutong, is currently venturing into property business.
“We were surprised to receive the award. I was encouraged by Hajah Mordiah to submit the nomination for the award and was able to get it.
“We felt proud to represent Brunei in the award ceremony. We were the first to receive the award in the ceremony and we were wearing Jongsarat, Brunei traditional costume made by Syarikat Jidah,” she said.
She urged local businesswoman to be patient and make wise investment.
Hajah Mordiah, who manages a consultancy and training company named Mordiah Training and Management Services commented, “I am happy that we are recognised at the ASEAN level and this award means a lot to us. It demonstrates Brunei’s business development, led by women.
“At the ceremony, we had the opportunity to meet and network with businesswomen from other ASEAN member countries.”
Hajah Mordiah urged young women entrepreneurs to focus on carrying out businesses in line with the government’s initiative to support entrepreneurship.
“Annually, Women’s Business Council conducts entrepreneurship workshop for its members and the public. We are focussing on developing women and youth businesses through sharing of skills and experiences,” she said.
AWEN is a network of business women in the region, operating to exchange knowledge and experience, develop initiatives to promote economic and trade activities to enhance gender equality, empower and strengthen entrepreneurship skills for women in ASEAN Community, create a favourable environment for female-led enterprises and support women entrepreneurship in the region.
The initiative to establish AWEN was announced by Vietnam at the 6th ASEAN Committee on Women (ACW) Meeting held from November 7-8, 2007 in Chiang Mai, Thailand.