Kuching: Deputy Communications Minister Teo Nie Ching announced that the ministry is targeting 7,000 participants for the NADIpreneur programme this year. The initiative, under the National Information Dissemination Centre (NADI), is designed to encourage entrepreneurship, with a focus on women’s participation through NADI EmpowHER.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, the ministry aims for at least 60 percent of participants to be women. As of March 31, 4,000 entrepreneurs have been trained, of which 3,390 are women. The programme aims to equip online entrepreneurs with skills to expand their businesses using e-commerce platforms like TikTok and Lazada. Training will include effective marketing strategies, proper product packaging, and basic accounting skills. Support from state governments and elected representatives is anticipated to enhance these efforts.

Launched in January, NADI EmpowHER is a crucial component of NADI x Keusahawanan (Entrepreneurship), dedicated to fostering local economic development and community empowerment. Teo highlighted that all 156 NADI centres across Sarawak have been fully operational since October last year, with initiatives now present in all 82 state constituencies.

Before the launch of the ‘1 DUN 1 NADI’ initiative, 133 centres existed, but 23 constituencies were without NADI centres. These have been established and operational since the end of last year. In addition to NADIpreneur and internet access, the centres provide basic health services, such as blood pressure and blood sugar screenings.

Teo stressed the importance of NADI centres in bridging digital, knowledge, and socio-economic divides within communities. These centres serve as hubs for collective internet access, community empowerment, and sources of accurate, up-to-date information.