Women-Led Enterprises Record RM229 Million in Projected Sales at Inaugural WiEX @ MIHAS 2026

The inaugural WiEX @ MIHAS 2026 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia saw women-led enterprises secure RM229 million in projected export sales. Aiming to empower women exporters, the whole-of-government initiative facilitated international trade leads at the Women in Export (WiEX) Pavilion. B2B meetings between local women entrepreneurs and international buyers from Egypt, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, China, Hong Kong, Thailand, Indonesia, and Myanmar totaled 215.

Sales from women-owned companies in Selangor, Kedah, Kuala Lumpur, Perak, and Penang amounted to RM129.84 million, primarily for confectionary, snacks, coffee, tea, cocoa, and sportswear. The WiEX platform, in conjunction with MIHAS 2026, exemplifies a strategic Whole-of-Government approach to scaling women-led businesses into high-value global supply chains.

The initiative includes capacity-building, market access, and recognition under one roof. MATRADE Chairman Dato’ Seri Reezal Merican Naina Merican emphasized the central role of women entrepreneurs in the economy, with women owning 20.1% of Malaysian businesses. Tan Sri Shahrizat Abdul Jalil, President of HAWA Malaysia, highlighted the importance of balancing technological progress with values in the era of Industry 5.0.

The WiEX Forum 2026 gathered over 300 participants to share knowledge on international expansion, featuring insights from industry leaders such as Low Ngai Yuen of AEON 360 and Eryca Baiduri of NOIR.