PUTRAJAYA, MALAYSIA - Cempaka Group of School chairman Datin Frieda Mohd Pilus has been awarded the top Women Entrepreneur at the inaugural National Women Entrepreneur Awards 2008 (NWEA).

It is the first national award to recognise the achievements of women entrepreneurs who managed their businesses to reach the pinnacle of success.

Also winners were multi-level marketing company De Classic Life (M) Sdn Bhd managing director Datuk Hajjah Azlina Che Abdullah and personal care products maker The Truely Loving Company Sdn Bhd chief executive officer Julia Chong Chooi Fong, who were the second and third winners respectively.

Freida said the education industry had a bright future as it was the third largest income earner for the country after the oil and gas, and tourism sectors.

'The impact of the global financial downturn in Malaysia is not as bad as other countries. But we need to be creative and innovative,' she said when met last night.

The Cempaka Group, which has five schools now, would soon be starting another school in the Iskandar Malaysia region and two schools in Saudi Arabia.

Chong believed her company would achieve a healthy growth next year as personal care and household products were daily necessities.

The NWEA is jointly organised by International Trade and Industry Ministry, and the Small and Medium Industries Development Corp.

The awards were presented by Raja Permaisuri Agong Tuanku Nur Zahirah.

Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin said this award would garner interest in women entrepreneurship.

Also given out were the Platinum Entrepreneur Award to JWR Technology (M) Sdn Bhd managing director Johora Bee Sheikh Nattersah, Entrepreneur Extraordinaire Award to Securiforce Group of Companies executive chairman Datuk Maznah Hamid and Emerging Entrepreneur Award to Clear Insight Technology Sdn Bhd managing director Siti Mariam Abdullah.