Kuala Lumpur, 5 June 2025- YB Dato’ Sri Ramanan Ramakrishnan, Deputy Minister of Entrepreneur Development and Cooperatives, together with Mr. Shahril Azuar Jimin, CEO of Amanah Ikhtiar Malaysia (AIM), have announced a bold expansion of the PENN 2.0 program – doubling its fund to RM100 million to uplift over 10,000 Indian women entrepreneurs.
The Prosperity Empowerment and A New Normal for Indian Women (PENN 2.0) initiative is a targeted microfinance scheme that offers RM3,000 to RM30,000 in loans without collateral, guarantors, or financial statements – making it highly accessible to low-income Indian women.
“Empowerment must be practical and inclusive,” said Dato Ramanan, affirming the government’s goal of reducing economic gaps within the Indian community. Mr. Shahril Azuar Jimin added, “We are not only giving funds – we are nurturing sustainable entrepreneurs through mentoring and hands-on support.”
Phase 1 of the program supported 6,247 women, including 1,062 first-time entrepreneurs, with many seeing income increases of up to 30%. Supported sectors include food, tailoring, beauty services, and other home-based businesses.
This move aligns with national agendas like NEP2030 and SPV2030, reinforcing inclusive growth. PENN 2.0 is more than financial aid – it’s a strategic step toward long-term economic empowerment for Indian women in Malaysia.
