‘Views, experiences right push for SMEs’
KUCHING: The exchange of views and experiences at the 13th World Islamic Economic Forum (WIEF) is the right nudge needed by small and medium enterprises (SMEs) to move forward, said chairman Tun Musa Hitam.
“That is why SMEs need to be here and update themselves from what is happening globally and it (exchange of views) would allow them to move on and not to rely on the government,” he said after launching the WIEF Alumni Network, here, yesterday.
As for the 13th WIEF, Musa said the participants, majority from the private sector, had gathered to pitch their ideas on the spot.
“As for the conference this year, you did not see the government offering anything, but we had the private sector and small-scale venture capitalists immediately responding when you share your ideas,” he said.
The 13th WIEF, which ends today, at the Borneo Convention Centre, Kuching, aims to bring together Muslim and non-Muslim communities through the common language of business.
“On the digital economy, developing countries and Muslim countries have started to adopt the technology to allow them to grow globally,” said Musa.
“This is where a tinge of political leadership should come into the picture to motivate the industry players to adopt the technology,” he said.
Meanwhile, WIEF’s inaugural alumni network serves to connect captains of the industry and professionals across technology, Islamic finance, logistics, tourism and halal food sectors.
The network is set to connect 17,000 alumni across its 13 editions, reflecting the commitment of the foundation behind the theme “Disruptive Change: Impact and Challenges”. Bernama