Minister of Social and Family Development Aishath Shiham has announced a MVR 100 million loan scheme that will seek to empower women entrepreneurs.
Speaking at the inauguration of the ‘Hiyala Weekend Market’, a project targeted towards showcasing products by women entrepreneurs under one roof, the minister said President Mohamed Muizzu had promised to set aside a specific location, with low rent floor space, in Hulhumalé to showcase home grown products created by women.
The minister said that realising the promise was a great encouragement to women entrepreneurs.
“This will not only benefit women entrepreneurs. It will also be a new path for their families to contribute to an improved income, leading to their prosperity and the prosperity of society as a whole,” she said.
The minister said contentment is one of the most important factors for a happy and dignified life and global research shows that when a woman in a family experiences contentment, it positively impacts the entire family. Therefore, the administration believes that empowering women is essential, Shiham said.
The minister said the administration had decided to disburse MVR 100 million loan for women soon with a loan for small businesses to be introduced soon.
“Besides, I assure you that the President will fulfil two key promises to enable them to live a fulfilling and dignified life. Thus, the MVR 100 million loan earmarked for women will soon be disbursed,” she said. The minister also urged as many women as possible to take advantage of these opportunities.
The Hiyala Weekend Market will be held at the Container Park area at Hulhumalé Phase I and will be held every weekend from 4:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m.