Continuous Support Needed for B40 Women in E-Commerce

Ongoing support is crucial for women, especially those from the bottom 40% income group (B40), to thrive in e-commerce, according to Digital Minister Gobind Singh Deo. He highlighted that statistics indicate significant challenges for women in this category in fully leveraging opportunities in the digital economy.​

While nearly 220,000 women entrepreneurs have entered e-commerce through various platforms, only 12.63% have received training beyond their initial participation.

"This shows that many still require ongoing guidance—not just to establish a presence on digital platforms, but to compete and succeed," he stated during the launch of EmpowerHER Digital 2025.

Gobind also revealed that data shows nearly 57,000 women selling online recorded no sales, while most earned below RM1,000.

"This proves that obstacles still exist, preventing them from fully tapping into the digital economy. It is our responsibility to help them progress," he added.

The EmpowerHER Digital programme, spearheaded by the Digital Ministry in collaboration with Malaysia Digital Economy Corporation (MDEC), Digital Nasional Bhd (DNB), and SMECorp Malaysia, aims to equip B40 women with digital skills and market access to help them build sustainable businesses online.

Gobind announced plans to expand the initiative to more states, ensuring its benefits reach women in both urban and rural areas.

"The government, through the Digital Ministry and MDEC, is committed to inclusive digital transformation, ensuring equal opportunities for all—particularly rural women, single mothers, and underprivileged groups—to thrive in the digital economy," he said.

Referring to findings from the Malaysian Family Cheap Sale@DE DAGANG programme in 2022, he noted that 95% of women entrepreneurs operate individually rather than as registered businesses or formal entities.

"This suggests that many are still in the early stages of digitalisation and need greater support in areas such as financing, digital marketing, and strategic training.

"Our duty is to ensure no one is left behind, making EmpowerHER Digital more than just a training initiative—it is a nationwide movement to empower women in the digital space and help them succeed," he concluded.