Ministry to transform SME entrepreneurs via e-commerce
SANDAKAN: The Industrial Development Ministry is aiming to transform 1,000 of Sabah’s Small-Medium Enterprises (SME) entrepreneurs and microentrepreneurs from ‘local’ to ‘global’ by guiding them from beginning until the end to take their market globally through digital economy, this year.
Its minister, Datuk Seri Panglima Raymond Tan Shu Kiahm said to assist SME entrepreneurs to move forward into the digital economy is a national agenda, and Sabah would not want to miss out.
He said that the aim is a development that the government must give more attention and focus on as there are at least 50,000 SME entrepreneurs in Sabah, with 450,000 jobs and RM10 billion salaries created by SME industry in Sabah in 2015.
“They are the jobs providers. We have a strong foundation now (for SME industry) and we are taking them a step further. This is the time, we are a modern world now. We will provide knowledge and assistance on how to move to the digital economy. This means that we will groom and guide them until they are successful.
“We start from introducing the entrepreneurs and their products or services, and we will assist in the packaging and logistics to reach the market intended. We will also guide them to make use of the information technology to reach a wider market, globally,” Tan said.
For a start for entrepreneurs in Sandakan, a programme named Championing Sabah’s Digital Economy Roadshow will be held on April 23, this year at ground floor, Concourse Harbour Mall, here.
It will be jointly organised by the Department of Industrial Development and Research (DIDR) and KKIP Sdn Bhd.
The main objective of the oneday roadshow is to disseminate information on government initiatives in digital economic development and to encourage entrepreneurs in Sabah to engage in the marketing of products and services through e-commerce.
One similar programme was held in Kota Kinabalu early last month, said Tan and he would be taking the roadshow to Sandakan this time to provide opportunity for entrepreneurs in Sandakan to take part.
“This programme will be continuous. We will continue to organise this in other parts of Sabah and also multiple times in the same location. With this, we hope that those who attend the programme would have the knowledge on how to start moving to the digital economy to enhance their businesses. We challenge the existing entrepreneurs in Sabah to take a step forward, and grow their businesses globally,” Tan said during a press conference held at Jobs&You Centre, Jalan Leila, here, yesterday.
He added the ministry would keep the record of those who register to attend the programme, and would then find out more about how the ministry could assist the entrepreneurs in growing their businesses as well as taking to the digital economy.
Registration for those who are interested to attend the seminar is now open for the locals, and they could register online at https:// goo.gl.VfWUbo based on first come first serve basis.
Registration will be open for two weeks and participation is free.
The event will see five information sharing sessions presented by experienced and highly knowledgeable people in ecommerce business. Some of the sharing will touch on e-Usahawan by Malaysian Digital Economy Corporation (MDEC), Shared Services and Outsourcing Centre and Platform Borneokaki.com by Softwise Sdn Bhd, Plarform shoesabah.com by Hybrid Ultimate Worldwide Sdn Bhd, Logistik Apps to solve delivery issues by NCT Group and How to grow your business in digital age by chairman of BUMP-EAGA ICT Cluster.
Help desks by various government departments and agencies such as the DIDR, MATRADE, SME Corp, MIDF, SME Bank and more will also be there to disseminate information on various programmes and assistance provided to assist the development of SMEs and micro entrepreneurs.
Those who seek for further information about the Championing Sabah’s Digital Economy programme could reach Shirley Joseph at shirley.joseph@ sabah.gov.my or contact Alex Lim at 011-35837721.
Also present during the press conference were Datuk Haji Hashim Paijan, permanent secretary of the ministry and his assistant, Tseu Kei Yue; Patrick Tan, director of DIDR; Melvin Disimond, chief executive officer of KKIP; Abd Rahim Mohd Zain, manager of Entrepreneur Development of SEDCO; and POIC (Sabah) Sdn Bhd deputy CEO Lynette Ho.