Way back in July 1990, PENIAGAWATI (Persatuan Wanita Bumiputra Dalam Perniagaan & Profesyen Malaysia) organised a three day National Symposium on Women Entrepreneurs of Malaysia. This conference was officially opened by Y. B. Datuk Seri Dr. Mahathir Mohamad, the Prime Minister of Malaysia and was sponsored by CIDA (Canadian International Development Agency).

During this Conference that was attended by some 350 businesswomen and professionals, it was felt that women entrepreneurs of all races should get together to form a national association. Such an association would help to promote, encourage and support women who own and operate businesses as well as conduct workshops, training programmes and conferences to enhance women's capabilities and potential. As a result, a Resolution recommending the setting up of a National Association of Women Entrepreneurs was tabled and passed.

After the Symposium, a few dedicated and committed women entrepreneurs led by Puan Hajjah Faridah Shamsuddin, then President of PENIAGAWATI, got together and formed a pro-temp committee with Hajjah Faridah as the Pro-temp President. Several brainstorming sessions were held and by the end of 1991, the draft Constitution was ready. It was submitted to The Registrar of Societies and in May 1993, the National Association of Women Entrepreneurs of Malaysia or NAWEM was finally approved.

A soft launch of NAWEM to invite women entrepreneurs to join as members and inform the public of the existence of NAWEM was done in July 1993 at the Equatorial Hotel, Kuala Lumpur and was officiated by YB Datuk Napsiah Omar, then Deputy Minister of National Unity.

NAWEM held its inaugural Annual General Meeting in January 1994. YB Dato' Seri Rafidah Aziz, Minister of International Trade and Industry, graciously agreed to be the Patron and Puan Sharizat Abdul Jalil was elected President for the first term (1994-1996).

On September 5th 1994, YB Dato' Seri Rafidah Aziz officiated the launch of NAWEM and the Installation of the First Committee at the Istana Hotel, Kuala Lumpur. At this function, NAWEM's theme song " We're In This Together" was launched.

In April 1996, YB Sharizat, who had successfully contested and won a Parliamentary seat in Lembah Pantai was nominated Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Youth and Sports. Consequently, at the end of her term, YB Sharizat stepped down as President and Puan Mariam Tan Sri Sulaiman was nominated and is the incumbent President.

NAWEM is founded on the firm belief that the full realisation of the human potential is limited only by the acquisition of skill and knowledge and the availability of information and opportunities.

NAWEM is mindful of the importance of human resource development. it will therefore be in the forefront of initiatives to harness and develop under-utilised human resources, particularly women, by enhancing their skills and knowledge, and through the dissemination of information. In the widening of business opportunities, NAWEM members will ensure a consistent focus on quality, productivity and performance.

As the platform for women entrepreneurs, NAWEM is also the leadership that will influence and shape policies which will benefit women in business in particular and the nation in general.

Conscious of our ever changing and demanding environment, NAWEM is the inspiration to stimulate innovation and creativity in the development of business strategies that will be sensitive to local values and customer needs.

NAWEM also recognises the need for cohesiveness in forging business relationships. To this end NAWEM will be the bridge to transcend differences and to the nurturing of co-operation and mutually satisfying business environment within and outside our national boundaries.

By the year 2020, NAWEM members will be acknowledged not only as catalysts to the growth, development and enhancement of women in business but also as a motivating force, providing leadership and support to all Malaysian in the realisation of their full potential while upholding the values of mutual respect and caring.

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NAWEM ditubuhkan atas satu kesedaran dan keyakinan. Bahawasanya realisasi potensi manusia sepenuhnya hanya dihadkan oleh tahap kepakaran dan pengetahuan yang diperolehi, juga kebolehsampaian kepada sumber maklumat dan peluang yang ada.

Maka pembangunan sumber manusia mcrupakan satu unsur yang amat dititikberatkan oleh NAWEM. justeru itu NAWEM akan menerajui segala inisiatif yang diambil ke arah pencapaian matlamat ini. NAWEM akan menunjangi usaha memperlengkapkan serta membangunkan sumber manusia, khususnya kaum wanita, dengan menggalakkan peningkatan kepakaran dan pengetahuan, dan penyebaran maklumat. Dengan semakin terbukanya pcluang-peluang perniagaan, ahli-ahli NAWEM akan memastikan fokus yang konsisten terhadap kualiti, produktiviti dan prestasi.

Di dalam menjadi landasan kepada usahawan-usahawan wanita, adalah diharapkan NAWEM akan memainkan peranan berpengaruh di dalam pembentukan dasar-dasar yang akan membawa manfaat kepada usahawan~usahawan wanita khususnya, dan masyarakat sejagat amnya.

NAWEM peka terhadap peredaran masa dan suasana yang kian mencabar. la merupakan inspirasi yang sayugianya akan melahirkan inovasi dan kreativiti di dalam pembentukan strategi-strategi perniagaan yang sealiran dan sensitif dengan nilai-nilai tempatan.

NAWEM memupuk aliran persefahaman di dalam membina hubungan perniagaan. Berasaskan ini, NAWEM akan bertindak sebagai penghubung segala batasan dan perbezaan. Ia juga berhasrat mewujudkan semangat kerjasama dan suasana perniagaan saling memanfaatkan di arena keusahawanan tempatan, mahupun luar negara.

Menjelang tahun 2020, ahli-ahli NAWEM akan diperakui sebagai penggerak kepada perkembangan, pembangunan dan peningkatan penglibatan kaum wanita di dalam dunia perniagaan. juga sebagai tenaga yang memberi motivasi, segandingan mutu kepemimpinan dan sokongan kepada setiap warganegara Malaysia di dalam pencapaian prestasi mereka sepenuhnya. Apa sekalipun usaha NAWEM, nilai saling menghormati dan menyayangi di antara satu dengan lain tetap dipupuk dan disanjung tinggi.

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To-date, NAWEM has organised several events, including:

LUNCHEON MEETINGS hosted by "Captains of Industries":

• Dr. Munir Majid of KLSE
• Tan Sri Dato'Dr. Lin See Yan, then Deputy Governor of Bank Negara Malaysia
• YBhg. Tan Sri Azman Hashim, of Arab Malaysian Bank Group
• YBhg. Tan Sri Vincent Tan, of Berjaya Group
• YBhg. Tan Sri Zain Azraii, of MIDF

TRAINING WORKSHOPS on:

• How to incorporate a company and the Legal and HR aspects
• Marketing and Public Relations
• Understanding Financials for Non-Financial Managers
• Success Teams conducted Annette O'Shea-Roche, currently Executive Director of CanAsian Businesswomen's Network

SEMINAR on Women In Action in Langkawi in 1996

DELEGATION TO SINGAPORE in 1994 to meet the women entrepreneurs of Singapore

DELEGATION TO TORONTO, CANADA in 1995 to visit businesses owned by Canadian Women and to attend the Canadian Women Entrepreneurs of the Year Annual Award Ceremony.

ROADSHOW/MEMBERSHIP DRIVES to:

• Kuching in 1995
• Kota Kinabalu in 1995
• Penang and Langkawi in 1996

LAUNCH OF NAWEM SUCCESS TEAMS on 1st August 1996. This is on-going and there are presently 4 Teams.