80 companies registered for industry 4WRD readiness assessment — MITI

SHAH ALAM: Some 80 companies have registered in the Industry 4WRD Readiness Assessment (RA) On-line Registration System, a clear indication of their interest to be among the Industry 4WRD’s initiative, said the Ministry of International Trade and Industry (MITI).

Its deputy minister Dr Ong Kian Ming said the response to the initiative, launched on Jan 28 last year, had been encouraging and welcomed companies to take full advantage of the programme.

“We will evaluate the suitability of the companies based on the information in their RA application. Once we have chosen those who are suitable, we will start the RA process as this is a year-long process that we will undertake throughout 2019,” he said at the Productivity Day event hosted by LH Plus Sdn Bhd here.

Ong said the initial budget that had been allocated for the RA is sufficient for 500 small and medium enterprises (SMEs).

The target of 500 SMEs he said, could be achieved easily the SMEs need to go through evaluation meetings, steering committee and technical meetings conducted by the MITI.

“If need be, we will increase the level of participation (because) we need to see the response as we go on our roadshow. I’m quite confident that we will get more companies to sign up,” Ong said.

He said one direct benefit when they sign up is, they are required to do self evaluation online on how prepared the companies before they embark on Industry 4.0 (IR 4.0).

For companies chosen for the RA, there would be an expert authority to evaluate their readiness for IR 4.0, he said on the second direct benefit.

The third benefit according to Ong is, they would be eligible for business intervention funding and a follow up funding.

Ong urged the companies not be discourage if their companies are not chosen for RA, as they could still pay approximately RM25,000 on their own to conduct the RA.

“RA is the first step to identify where these companies would like to invest in, as there will be some funds allocated for companies that have gone through the RA. Today, we have also stationed our officers to assist interested companies requiring support in the RA online registration,” he said.

The deputy minister also said, the ministry would organised 10 sessions throughout the states to explain about Industry4WRD and hand-holding session RA On-line Registration System, beginning from February 25 until March 21, 2019.

MITI he said, urged all parties to browse MITI Portal, MPC Productivity Way-up Portal as well as M-Productivity Mobile Application in order to participate in the RA. Ong also called on the companies to take full advantage of the sessions to seek greater clarity regarding the ministry’s assistance for them to move up the productivity value chain.

At the Productivity Day event organised by Malaysia Productivity Corporation, three individuals were also presented with the Productivity Champions Award comprising LH Plus Sdn Bhd chief executive officer, Callum Chen; CCM Duopharma Biotech Bhd manufacturing general manager, Krishnakumara Reddi and Zeito Plastics Components Sdn Bhd production manager, Wong Fook Sing. — Bernama