NURTURE SME

feedback for this programme) the uptakes from the industries are very positive,” he told Business Times in an interview recently.

In order to increase productivity, Nor Azlan said it can be realised through the expansion of business activities, enhancement in production process, product quality and reduced rejection rate.

“The key focus here is technology intervention, that makes us unique in carrying out this programme. So whatever intervention that we do, it has to possess elements that involve technology penetration and upgrading,” he said.

In Malaysia, although 98 per cent of the firms on the companies’ registry are SMEs, the contribution to the gross domestic product is only 33 per cent.

As SMEs form the backbone of the country’s economy, Nor Azlan said it is important to see growing innovative SMEs in the market.

He said technology intervention will result in SMEs adoption of technological innovations to improve operations, boost productivity and increase competitiveness.

“This is achieved through the optimisation of material, energy, capital and labour as well as the introduction of new technology, particularly in mechanisation and automation for improvement of production processes,” he said.

“And for SIRIM, we believe productivity improvement in SMEs would have a significant impact on the country’s economy,” he added.

Under the Nurture SME Growth programme, a maximum grant of up to RM50,000 (for packaging and labelling) and up to RM200,000 (for entrepreneur development) will be given to each successful company.

Selected and participating companies will get an 80:20 matching grant of which 80 per cent of all costs related to the programme will be borne by the government and the companies will only have to fund the remainder, said Nor Azlan.

Companies that are interested to undertake the programme are required to communicate directly with the SIRIM secretariat.

Currently, participation is open to all local SMEs involved in the manufacturing and services sectors.