Shell LiveWIRE Malaysia 2023 Recognizes Innovative Entrepreneurs

Shell LiveWIRE Malaysia 2023, a celebration of entrepreneurial achievement and social impact, recently ended its current edition with a lavish awards event at Wisma Shell in Kuala Lumpur. The program, recognized for turning unique ideas into successful businesses, was essential in identifying and empowering emerging firms across sectors.

The ceremony was conducted by Datuk Ewon Benedick, Minister of Entrepreneur Development and Cooperatives, who presented prizes to five outstanding enterprises, including two from Sabah, at the national awards ceremony. GK Aqua, Southeast Asia Treasure, Grace Creation, Materials in Works, and Pungu Borneo won as national champions, out of 15 candidates declared state winners earlier this year in Sabah, Sarawak, and Peninsula. Notably, Sabah's Southeast Asia Treasure and Grace Creation both took first place, marking a historic milestone for the state.

The Wisma Shell awards event was a historic chance to honour and celebrate the accomplishments of these nascent businesses. It emphasized the unique skills and ideas fostered by the Shell LiveWIRE project, strengthening the company's role as a driving force in Malaysia's entrepreneurial environment. The successes of the winning firms demonstrated the program's success in identifying and fostering exceptional talent and creative solutions.

Shell LiveWIRE Malaysia has been instrumental in fostering an entrepreneurial and inventive culture by providing a holistic strategy that includes financial assistance with substantial training and coaching. This method not only raises the chance of startup success, but it also adds to the overall economic development of the country.

Shell Malaysia's Country Chair and Senior Vice President, Upstream Malaysia, Siti Sulaiman, underlined the program's good societal impact. "Our Shell LiveWIRE program has a positive social impact on communities while also contributing to local business development, job creation, and innovative social and economic solutions," she went on to say.

Grace Creation, a social company started by Rositinah Andahang and Mainah Himbulan in Sabah, is one of the national winners and has become a beacon of empowerment for women in Pensiangan. Grace development not only provides sustainable employment but also significant skill training to women facing financial and education issues by focusing on maintaining Sabah's unique ethnic heritage via the development of authentic Murut ethnic handicrafts.

Southeast Asia Treasure, led by Radziah Matarsad and Siti Aishah Syazwani Sairin, gained recognition for their revolutionary "Smart Culture" invention in seaweed cultivation. The mother-and-daughter team has pioneered an ecologically sustainable solution by combining sophisticated technology and environmentally friendly procedures to reduce the influence of marine life on seaweed production. This invention not only protects marine environments but also increases farmer revenue by increasing production and efficiency.

The Shell LiveWIRE program continues to make major contributions to Malaysia's entrepreneurial ecosystem, reinforcing Shell's commitment to sustainable development and cultivating an innovation culture for the benefit of communities and economies alike.