Speech by Minister-in-charge of Trade Relations Grace Fu at the SG-WEN 5th Anniversary and Award Dinner

1. I am delighted to join you this evening to celebrate the fifth anniversary of the Singapore Women Entrepreneurs Network, or SG-WEN. Five years may not seem very long, but in the journey of an entrepreneur, much can change. Businesses have had to navigate uncertainty, reinvent their business models, build new capabilities and venture into new markets. Each challenge requires entrepreneurs to adapt, grow, and emerge stronger.

2. SG-WEN has grown alongside its entrepreneurs. Since its establishment by the Singapore Business Federation in 2021, it has grown into a community of more than 850 founders, business owners and leaders. SG-WEN was established not merely as a networking group, but as a platform to strengthen the capabilities of women entrepreneurs, connect them with partners and opportunities, amplify their voices, and support them in growing and internationalising their businesses. My congratulations to the founders, Executive Committee, members, partners and stakeholders who have contributed to SG-WEN's journey over the past five years.

3. SG-WEN’s journey also reflects a wider story unfolding across our region. Women entrepreneurs are an important part of ASEAN’s economic landscape, building businesses in sectors such as garments and textiles, tourism and the creative industries, while increasingly tapping into opportunities in e-commerce, digital services and sustainability-related solutions.

4. Their contribution is significant. Recent research estimates that Southeast Asia is home to 38.8 million women-led businesses, including 12.8 million established businesses with stable revenues.

5. These figures show that women entrepreneurs are already an important part of ASEAN’s growth story. As the region continues to grow, digitalise and pursue more sustainable development, they have the potential to make an even greater contribution.

6. So as we celebrate SG-WEN’s first five years tonight, it is also timely to look ahead. There are opportunities that we can seize, and I see three areas where SG-WEN can play a big role and create more impact.

Strengthening Businesses and Their Founders

7. First, SG-WEN can continue to build on its strong foundation in supporting women entrepreneurs to strengthen their businesses. As consumer needs, technologies and operating conditions evolve, founders need the knowledge and judgement to lead their businesses through change and prepare them to scale.

8. Over the past five years, SG-WEN has done this through capability-building programmes, mentorship, peer learning and practical business exposure. One example is the RISE Programme, which has supported nearly 90 women entrepreneurs across three cohorts through workshops, mentorship, networking and learning journeys. Such initiatives give founders practical tools and perspectives that they can apply to their businesses.

9. SG-WEN also offers something less tangible but equally valuable: a trusted community where entrepreneurs can discuss challenges openly and learn from peers who understand the realities of building a business. That sense of solidarity can make an otherwise lonely journey less daunting.

Turning Connections into Opportunities

10. Second, SG-WEN can leverage its strong and diverse connections into greater opportunities and influence. Through SG-WEN and SBF's wider business community, members can connect with fellow business owners, experienced entrepreneurs, corporate and ecosystem partners, and government agencies.

11. These relationships have enabled members to exchange referrals, access expertise, form partnerships and identify new avenues for growth. They also show the value of women supporting women. As members become more established, I hope they will share their experiences and open doors for the next generation of women entrepreneurs.

12. SG-WEN also gives women entrepreneurs a collective voice. Through roundtables and dialogues with policymakers and ecosystem stakeholders, members can contribute their perspectives to discussions on enterprise growth, innovation, workforce transformation and internationalisation.

13. The Government will continue to work with partners such as SBF and SG-WEN to strengthen support for enterprises and entrepreneurs to grow, transform and internationalise. Networks such as SG-WEN complement these efforts by bringing together the experience, relationships and mutual support that entrepreneurs need to take their businesses further.

SG-WEN's Next Chapter in Singapore and ASEAN

14. Third, SG-WEN can help our women entrepreneurs build on their capabilities and connections to pursue growth beyond Singapore. Singapore is a small market, and internationalisation is an important pathway for businesses looking to scale. ASEAN presents significant opportunities, but success in the region requires local knowledge, trusted partnerships and strong cross-border networks.

15. We are already seeing Singapore women entrepreneurs seize these opportunities. For example, home-grown jewellery brand By Invite Only, founded by Trixie Khong, opened its first overseas store at The Gardens Mall in Kuala Lumpur in October 2026, marking an important milestone in its regional expansion. For more women entrepreneurs to make this leap, the right support and connections will be important.

16. Across ASEAN, women are building businesses in sectors such as garments and textiles, tourism and the creative industries. With access to finance, capabilities, networks and markets, more of these businesses can take the next step, reach new customers and grow.

17. We can see what such support can achieve through the ASEAN Women Impacting Social Enterprise, or WISE, initiative. Its 2021 cohort supported 17 women social entrepreneurs from nine ASEAN Member States, with Singapore-based Angels of Impact among the partners. One participant was Kesuma Indonesia, a social enterprise that empowers women and persons with disabilities through the production and marketing of embroidered crafts and naturally dyed traditional Indonesian textiles. Through WISE, Kesuma received support in areas such as digital marketing and product design in 2021, and financial literacy and financial management in 2023. This shows how capability-building and regional networks can help women entrepreneurs strengthen their businesses, reach new markets, and contribute to more inclusive and sustainable growth.

18. There is an opportunity for Singapore’s women entrepreneurs to both benefit from and contribute to these regional networks. They can learn from counterparts across ASEAN, find new partners and customers, and bring Singapore's own capabilities and expertise to collaborations in areas such as digitalisation and sustainability.

19. This is where SG-WEN’s regional networks can make a real difference. As Singapore’s representative to the ASEAN Women Entrepreneurs Network (AWEN), SG-WEN can help members build relationships with regional partners and customers, better understand ASEAN markets and business practices, and gain greater access and visibility on regional platforms.

20. Singapore’s ASEAN Chairmanship in 2027 will coincide with SG-WEN’s AWEN Chairmanship from 2027 to 2029. This presents a timely opportunity for SG-WEN to showcase the strengths of Singapore’s women entrepreneurs, deepen regional partnerships and contribute more actively to discussions on women’s entrepreneurship in ASEAN.

21. Through AWEN, Singapore’s women entrepreneurs can contribute their experience, innovation and expertise to the region, while learning from their counterparts across ASEAN. I encourage SG-WEN’s members to make full use of these opportunities: seek out new partners, share your experience, and be bold in taking your businesses into new markets.

Recognising Women Entrepreneurs

22. Tonight is a very special night. Not only are we here to celebrate the community and its achievements, we are also here to recognise our SG-WEN award recipients and nominees who have dreamt hard, fought hard and became the inspiration for many new and aspiring entrepreneurs. Entrepreneurial success can take many forms – from building a business from the ground up, to overcoming setbacks, entering new markets and creating a positive impact through business. Your achievements reflect the strength and diversity of Singapore’s women entrepreneurship community.

23. So to all the recipients and nominees, my warmest congratulations to you once again. I hope you will also share your experience, mentor others and open doors for the women entrepreneurs who follow. In doing so, your impact will extend well beyond your own businesses.

Closing

24. Over the past five years, SG-WEN has helped women entrepreneurs “Be More”: more capable in leading their businesses, more connected to opportunities, more influential in shaping our business community, and more bold in pursuing growth at home and across ASEAN.
    
    I am confident that SG-WEN will continue to build on this strong foundation and inspire more women entrepreneurs in Singapore and across ASEAN to achieve their aspirations. Congratulations once again on five years of helping women entrepreneurs “Be More