Kuala Lumpur: Malaysia is set to establish ASEAN's first Women's Economic Empowerment Centre in Kuala Lumpur, aiming to make the bloc's potential and opportunities accessible to all, including micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs), youth, and women. This initiative aligns with Malaysia's ASEAN 2025 Chairmanship theme, 'Inclusivity and Sustainability,' as stated by Minister of Investment, Trade, and Industry, Datuk Seri Tengku Zafrul Aziz at the ASEAN Women Economic Summit 2025 (AWES), held in conjunction with the ASEAN Summit.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, the establishment of the centre is part of Malaysia's broader strategy to place inclusive growth at the heart of Southeast Asia's policies during its tenure as ASEAN's 2025 Chair. Beyond the AWES, ASEAN supports women and youth entrepreneurs through platforms like the ASEAN Women Entrepreneurs Network (AWEN), the ASEAN Young Entrepreneurs Council (AYEC), the Social Enterprises Development Programme (ASEAN SEDP), and the ASEAN Youth Organisation (AYO).

Tengku Zafrul highlighted that while the challenges facing ASEAN's member countries are unique, there is a concerted effort to develop region-wide solutions. He noted that AWES could play a significant role in this endeavor. Malaysia, as Chair of ASEAN, is looking forward to the outcomes of AWES, particularly in creating gender-inclusive ASEAN-wide standards and policies and improving access to finance.

Tengku Zafrul further emphasized the importance of establishing a US$1 billion fund for ASEAN, questioning how it should be governed to ensure a broad-based impact, transparency, and access for women-led businesses. He also raised the challenge of digitally upskilling one million women across the region by 2027. While acknowledging the extensive work ahead, he affirmed that AWES contributes to a worthy cause that has been championed for decades.