DFTZ pilot project to offer conducive environment for SMEs

KUALA LUMPUR: The implementation of the Digital Free Trade Zone (DFTZ) pilot project beginning this October will further provide a conducive environment for companies, especially Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs), anchored in digital economy.

Second International Trade and Industry Minister, Datuk Seri Ong Ka Chuan, said the pilot project would enable the SMEs to further carry out their businesses and export their products and services.

“In Malaysia, there are some 21 million Internet users in a population of 30 million, and the mobile phone penetration rate is 143.8 per cent.

"With the increasing number of Internet users in the country and availability of affordable laptops, tablets and smartphones, the digital economy presents unprecedented opportunities for Malaysian business to achieve scale and serve customers,” he said in his keynote address at the Digital Economy Forum 3.0 here, yesterday.

Ong said the digital economy currently contributes 17.8 per cent to Malaysia's gross domestic product (GDP), with the potential to rise to 20 per cent of GDP by 2020.

On the eCommerce sector, he said it was expected to register more than 20 per cent growth and contribute RM211 billion to the GDP by 2020, on the back of government intervention through the ongoing implementation of the National eCommerce Strategic Roadmap (NeSR).

He said among the key achievements of the NeSR to date was the launch of "Go eCommerce” online platform, a one-stop business resource online centre on July 26, 2017 to guide the SMEs in eCommerce adoption.

"To date, more than 1,300 SMEs have already registered with the platform which will equip them with the necessary knowledge and skills to transform their current businesses to potential eCommerce export,” he added.

Themed "Catalysing Malaysian Economy Through Internetbased Innovation", the two-day forum is organised by the Malaysia Digital Chamber of Commerce with the objective of bringing together industry expert to discuss challenges and solutions to spur growth in the industry. — Bernama