Perbadanan Pembangunan Perdagangan Luar Malaysia

WEDP is a gender specific, three-year export support program, targeted for women exporters. WEDP began in 2005 with the aim of encouraging competitive and sustainable women-owned companies to expand their product and services exports.

Who can apply?

Briefly, the eligibility criteria include women-owned companies where the majority or at least 51 percent of the equity is held by women. The CEO and/or Managing Director should be women. Other requirements include, being classified as a Small and Medium Enterprise (SME), has been in operation for a minimum of three years, has attained some level of market visibility domestically, and has a designated business premise or manufacturing locale.

Shortlisted companies will be audited and assessed by a committee consisting of TERAJU, PUNB, MARA, MITI and MATRADE. Assessments will be based on site audits, interviews and scores on the Exporter's Readiness and Capability Assessment (ERCA) Model.

Expenses it supports and benefits of being in the programme:

WEDP is an intensive hand-holding program involving customised business coaching, skills enhancement training, international business exposure and market immersions, networking and mentoring sessions, and leadership and entrepreneurial development.

Companies in the programme receive some financial support in the form of assisted visits to international trade fairs or other international trade promotion events and selective free participation in seminars and workshops organised by MATRADE.

Eligibility and Selection Criteria

• The company must be owned by women with a majority, or at least 51% of equity held by women. The majority shareholding can be through a single female individual or a group of women shareholders.
• The Chief Executive Officer and/or Managing Director must be women. This set requirement for the leadership position to be held by a woman is considered important, as the programme emphasises on the leadership development of the individual placed in a position of power.
• Companies for WEDP must fit the national definition of a Small and Medium Enterprise (SME).
• The company must be in operation for a minimum of three years and attained an acceptable level of market footprint/presence/share/dominance locally
• Companies dealing with merchandise goods or services must have a designated business premise or manufacturing facility with a dedicated address and not a PO Box. Women-owned companies based in Sabah and Sarawak can be given priority for WEDP, on the basis of diversifying the spread of regional socio-economic growth.
• Special preference will be accorded to companies that are involved in technology-driven, high value-added and knowledge-based industries. These types of industries include high-precision parts manufacturing, biotechnology, biomedical engineering, animation and advance surveillance systems etc., and are generally non-traditional to women entrepreneurs.