KUALA TERENGGANU, Nov 17 — The Pasarnita, a project which provides business locations meant for women entrepreneurs to conduct business, is to be expanded nationwide starting next year.

Advisor on Women Entrepreneurship and Professional Development (KIW) at the Prime Minister’s Department (JPM) Tan Sri Shahrizat Abdul Jalil said the programme will gradually be implemented to other states.

At present it has been successfully implemented in Terengganu.

"Pasarnita will become a platform for women entrepreneurs to develop their businesses as well as provide space and opportunity to showcase their products.

"The next location will probably be in Kuala Lumpur. I am now planning to promote this project so that all states can have their own Pasarnita similar to the one in Terengganu. 

"This is a project under JPM and I am sure the prime minister will be happy to see that this project is successfully implemented,” she told reporters at Pasarnita @ KT here, which was officiated by Terengganu Mentri Besar Ahmad Razif Abdul Rahman yesterday.

Also present were the State Health, Women, Family and Community Development Committee chairman Roslee Daud and State Secretary Datuk Wan Nawawi Wan Ismail.

Shahrizat, who is also Umno Wanita chief, commended the state government for being aggressive and not delaying implementing the project as the site was completed within two years.

"This is a wise action and worthwhile business investment by the state government in its efforts to achieve monthly household income of RM8,000 by 2020,” she said.

Meanwhile Ahmad Razif said the market was built at a cost of RM13.9 million, and it provided 34 permanent lots and 101 retail spaces.

"The market is operating three days a week, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, from 3pm to 12pm. If the response among traders is good it will be further expanded in the future as at present there are about 80 women entrepreneurs who conduct their businesses here.

"We are also planning to relocate businesswomen who are currently operating at KT Walk on Fridays to this market so that they can do better business with visitors able to shop for their products comfortably,” he said. — Bernama