Saifuddin: We are committed in helping SMEs

PUTRAJAYA: The Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Ministry has a target of 30% of items sold at local hypermarkets to be products by Malaysian SMEs (small and medium-sized entrepreneurs)

“At the moment, we have 1,497 SMEs that are registered with the ministry. The ministry has successfully developed some 241 products of different brands by SMEs, which are now marketed at hypermarkets.

“Currently, about 20% of prod- ucts at hypermarkets are from SMEs and we need to increase efforts in order to achieve our target of 30%,” said Minister Datuk Saifuddin Nasution Ismail at the launch of the ministry’s SME Day 2018 here.

The ministry, he said, is committed to help SMEs upgrade the quality of their products to become more competitive and marketed at top hypermarkets.

Saifuddin also noted that one of the problems faced by SMEs in getting their products on hypermarket shelves is unattractive labelling or packaging.

“Hypermarkets are big-name establishments and therefore are more fussy when it comes to what products they choose to sell.

“Therefore, I encourage SMEs to work hard to upgrade their products until they tick off all the prerequisites imposed by hypermarkets. The ministry at the same time will urge hypermarkets to be more accommodating and help SMEs out,” said Saifuddin.

The ministry, through Sirim, will assist SMEs to enhance the labelling and packaging to be more presentable, said Saifuddin.

“We are committed in helping SMEs,” he said

At the event, Saifuddin also launched a halal product guidebook for SMEs looking to market their goods at hypermarkets.