Kuala lumpur: Penang has achieved 75 per cent of its targets under the Penang2030 Vision to increase the participation of women and senior citizens in community life, reflecting the state government's commitment to inclusive and balanced development.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow said the achievement underscores the state's continued efforts to ensure that women, including single mothers, and senior citizens play an active role in the state's development. "A total of 17,241 women and senior citizen volunteers have been recorded, representing 86 per cent of our target of 20,000 volunteers by 2030. This shows that Penang's development is driven not only by economic growth but also by the strength of an active, caring and engaged community," he told reporters after officiating the Chief Minister's Tour Programme with the Single Mothers Community of the Batu Kawan parliamentary constituency at Masjid Jamek Kebun Sireh today.
Also present were the State Social Development, Welfare, and Non-Islamic Religious Affairs Committee chairman Lim Siew Khim; State Trade and Community Unity Committee chairman Goh Choon Aik; and Bukit Tengah Assemblyman Gooi Hsiao-Leung. Chow, who is also the Batu Kawan Member of Parliament, said the state government continues to strengthen the implementation of Gender-Responsive and Participatory Budgeting (GRPB) through the Penang Women's Development Corporation (PWDC). This is to ensure that policies, programmes and budget allocations effectively address the needs of the people, particularly women, he said.
He added that this commitment has been further reinforced this year through the Age-Friendly City initiative, which requires assessments of gender- and ageing-related budget implications at the grassroots level. Meanwhile, Chow said 4,052 women entrepreneurs are currently part of Penang's entrepreneurship ecosystem, representing 81 per cent of the interim target set under the Penang2030 Vision.
He said the PENMentor programme implemented by PWDC has benefited 428 women entrepreneurs, with participants recording an average income increase of 30 per cent after completing the programme. Chow noted that rapid advances in artificial intelligence (AI), automation and digitalisation require women entrepreneurs, especially single mothers, to strengthen their digital capabilities, embrace e-commerce platforms and master online marketing to expand their businesses.
He said the Chief Minister's Tour with the Single Mothers Community programme not only provides a platform for entrepreneurs to promote their products and services but also creates opportunities for collaboration with the corporate sector, government agencies and community organisations. Chow also urged the private sector to recognise local micro-entrepreneurs, particularly single mothers, as strategic partners in the state's supply chain by creating more opportunities for them to become suppliers, local product manufacturers and business partners.