DEWI 2026: Dana Ekonomi Usahawan Wanita, Financing & How to Apply

Women entrepreneurs in Malaysia can access financing under the Dana Ekonomi Usahawan Wanita (DEWI), an initiative introduced by the Ministry of Entrepreneur Development and Cooperatives (KUSKOP) to strengthen women-owned micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs).

The initiative brings together financing programmes from TEKUN Nasional, Bank Rakyat, SME Bank and Amanah Ikhtiar Malaysia (AIM), giving women entrepreneurs different financing options based on their business needs and scale.

The programme is part of wider government efforts to support Malaysia's PMKS ecosystem and improve access to business financing. Entrepreneurs can also explore other business financing, grants and loans in Malaysia when planning their business expansion.

What is Dana Ekonomi Usahawan Wanita (DEWI)?

Image source: ecentral.my

DEWI is designed to strengthen the ecosystem for women-owned PMKS across Malaysia and coordinate various women entrepreneurship support programmes under a more integrated initiative.

The programme aims to support women entrepreneurs in areas such as business expansion, working capital, asset purchases and improving business capacity.

The government has allocated almost RM3 billion under DEWI, with the initiative targeting up to 300,000 women entrepreneurs.

According to KUSKOP, the funding is distributed through four main agencies:

TEKUN Nasional
Bank Rakyat
SME Bank
Amanah Ikhtiar Malaysia

How much financing can women entrepreneurs get?

The financing amount depends on the programme and the type of business.

Overall, DEWI provides financing ranging from micro financing of up to RM30,000 to business financing of up to RM3 million.

The RM3 billion refers to the overall funding allocation across the participating agencies, not the amount each applicant will automatically receive.

DEWI Financing Comparison

Programme	Agency	Financing	Suitable For
Skim Pembiayaan Wanita	TEKUN Nasional	Up to RM30,000	Women entrepreneurs and micro businesses
BR BizLady-i	Bank Rakyat	Up to RM1 million	Micro businesses and SMEs
MySMELady 2.0	SME Bank	RM100,000 to RM3 million	Established women-owned SMEs
Skim Pembiayaan Ikhtiar	AIM	Up to RM30,000	Micro entrepreneurs

The actual financing amount, rate and repayment period depend on the applicant's eligibility and the requirements of each participating agency.

DEWI Financing Programmes

1. Skim Pembiayaan Wanita by TEKUN Nasional

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The Skim Pembiayaan Wanita is provided by TEKUN Nasional to support women entrepreneurs, particularly those who need smaller-scale financing to start, maintain or expand their businesses.

The financing offered is:

Maximum financing: Up to RM30,000
Repayment period: Up to 3 years
Profit rate: Up to 4% per year

The programme is suitable for eligible women entrepreneurs who need additional capital for their business activities.

Applicants can contact or visit a TEKUN Nasional branch to check the latest eligibility requirements and application process.

For women entrepreneurs who are also looking for other government-backed financing options, it is useful to compare the available business financing and grants in Malaysia before choosing a facility.

2. BR BizLady-i by Bank Rakyat

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BR BizLady-i is a financing programme from Bank Rakyat specifically for women entrepreneurs operating micro, small and medium enterprises.

The programme is intended to cover working capital and/or capital expenditure to help women entrepreneurs expand their businesses. It also supports more inclusive economic participation, particularly among unserved and underserved groups.

Bank Rakyat has allocated RM30 million for the programme.

The financing is divided into different segments:

a) Micro

Financing amount: RM1,000 to RM50,000
Profit rate: 6.50% per year at a flat rate

b) Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs)

Financing amount: RM50,001 to RM1 million
Profit rate: Base Financing Rate (KAP) + 0.67% per year
Subject to fund availability

The programme provides financing facilities including Term Financing-i and Cash Line-i.

Among the key eligibility considerations are that the business must have been operating for the required period, have a satisfactory credit record and meet Bank Rakyat's financing and Shariah requirements.

Women entrepreneurs can check the latest requirements and apply through Bank Rakyat's official BR BizLady-i channel.

3. MySMELady 2.0 by SME Bank

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MySMELady 2.0 is designed for women entrepreneurs who want to expand their businesses through asset acquisition and/or working capital.

The financing can be used to increase production capacity, strengthen market penetration and improve business competitiveness.

The programme offers:

Minimum financing: RM100,000
Maximum financing: RM3 million
Profit rate: 5% per year
Financing tenure: Up to 5 years

Eligible businesses generally need to meet SME Bank's requirements, including:

The business must qualify as an MSME under the SME Corp. Malaysia definition.
At least 51% of the equity must be held by a woman or women, or the CEO/Managing Director must be a woman who owns at least 10% equity.
The business must be registered with the relevant authority, such as SSM.
The business must be Shariah-compliant.
The business must have been operating for at least 2 years.

Financing can be used for machinery, equipment and working capital, subject to the applicable financing margin and SME Bank's requirements.

4. Skim Pembiayaan Ikhtiar by Amanah Ikhtiar Malaysia

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The Skim Pembiayaan Ikhtiar (SPI) is provided by Amanah Ikhtiar Malaysia (AIM) and focuses on micro-entrepreneurs, including women and families from lower-income groups.

Under the DEWI initiative, financing is available up to:

Financing amount: Up to RM30,000
Profit rate: 10%
Financing period: Up to 3 years

The programme targets groups including women entrepreneurs, B40 families and eligible communities.

Among the financing options under AIM are:

i-Wibawa: Additional capital for seasonal businesses.
i-Sejahtera: Financing for women entrepreneurs under a social financing scheme.
i-Bestari: Financing to improve and expand business activities.
i-Penyayang: Social financing for women entrepreneurs.

Applicants can contact or visit an Amanah Ikhtiar Malaysia branch to check the latest requirements.

Note: Financing rates, limits, repayment periods and eligibility requirements may be updated by AIM. Applicants should confirm the latest terms directly with AIM before submitting an application.

Who Can Apply for DEWI?

DEWI is specifically intended for women entrepreneurs in Malaysia.

However, eligibility depends on the individual financing programme because each participating agency has its own requirements.

For example, applicants may need to meet requirements relating to:

Business registration
Business operating period
Business ownership
Business activity
Credit history
Financial performance
Shariah compliance
Financing purpose

Therefore, applicants should choose the programme that best matches their business size and financing needs.

For businesses that are still preparing their registration or formalising their operations, understanding the PMKS registration requirements in Malaysia can also help before applying for financing.

How to Apply for DEWI 2026

There is no single application form covering all DEWI programmes. Applications are made through the agency providing the selected financing.

Step 1: Identify the right financing

Consider how much funding your business needs and what the financing will be used for.

For example, a micro business requiring smaller working capital may consider TEKUN Nasional or AIM, while an established SME requiring larger financing may consider Bank Rakyat or SME Bank.

Step 2: Check the eligibility requirements

Review the latest requirements of the selected agency, including business registration, operating period, ownership and financial or credit requirements.

Step 3: Prepare your documents

Applicants should prepare relevant business and financial documents required by the financing agency.

These may include business registration documents, identification documents, financial records and other supporting documents.

Step 4: Submit the application

Applications can be made through the respective agency:

TEKUN Nasional: Through TEKUN branches
Bank Rakyat: Through its BR BizLady-i application channel
SME Bank: Through the MySMELady 2.0 official page
Amanah Ikhtiar Malaysia: Through AIM branches

What Should Women Entrepreneurs Consider Before Applying?

DEWI provides several financing options, but applicants should not automatically choose the programme with the highest financing limit.

Before applying, consider:

How much capital your business actually needs.
Whether the financing is for working capital, equipment or business expansion.
The repayment period and profit rate.
Your current business cash flow.
The eligibility requirements of the financing provider.
Whether your business can comfortably manage the monthly or scheduled repayments.

For established SMEs, larger financing may support expansion, while smaller businesses may benefit more from micro financing with a lower funding requirement.

Latest DEWI Update

As of 11 April 2026, KUSKOP reported that RM906 million had been distributed under DEWI, benefiting 106,100 women entrepreneurs.

The initiative involved four agencies and a combined funding pool of about RM3 billion, with a target of supporting up to 300,000 women entrepreneurs.

KUSKOP also said a significant portion of the available allocation remained unused at that point, encouraging more eligible women entrepreneurs to take advantage of the financing facilities.

Further Information

For more information about DEWI, please visit the following websites:

https://www.tekun.gov.my

https://qr2e.bankrakyat.com.my/suite

https://www.smebank.com.my/mysmelady

https://aim.gov.my

FAQs

What is DEWI?

Dana Ekonomi Usahawan Wanita (DEWI) is a KUSKOP initiative designed to strengthen and support women-owned PMKS businesses in Malaysia.

How much financing is available under DEWI?

Financing varies by programme, with options ranging from up to RM30,000 to RM3 million.

Which agencies provide DEWI financing?

The four main agencies are TEKUN Nasional, Bank Rakyat, SME Bank and Amanah Ikhtiar Malaysia.

Is DEWI only for women entrepreneurs?

Yes. DEWI is specifically targeted at women entrepreneurs.

Can I apply for more than one DEWI programme?

Each agency has its own eligibility and financing requirements. Applicants should check directly with the relevant agency before submitting an application.

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