Malaysia: ICT Usage By SMEs Reaches 89 Pct

CYBERJAYA (Malaysia), Jan 13 (Bernama) -- Information Communications Technology (ICT) usage among Small Medium Enterprises (SMEs) reached 89 per cent last year. Deputy Minister of International Trade and Industry (Miti) Ahmad Maslan said the jump from just 27 per cent in 2010 was a positive development towards the full use of the digital economy by the 645,136 SMEs by 2019. "The digitisation of SMEs will make the industry more resilient through the enhancing of online trade, e-commerce and implementation of e-payment activities, a practice in line with the expansion of ICT at present," he added. Ahmad said this at a press conference after visiting IX Telecom Sdn Bhd, the top listed company among 50 SMEs in the Enterprise Award 50 (E50) organised by SME Corp Malaysia, last month. The E50 is a prestigious award programme which recognises the achievements of Malaysian SMEs which are well positioned for the future. The 50 winners from among 1,355 companies are accorded four and five star ratings based on financial capabilities, operations and management competencies. Ahmad said Miti would continue to lead and assist SMEs in adopting the digital agenda through agencies as SME Corp and the Malaysian Digital Economy Malaysia (MDEC). Ahmad said Miti also targets to increase the ICT use among SMEs to 95 per cent in 2017 before achieving full digitisation next year. He said this is possible through various initiatives and new incentives to be introduced, among them, alternative funding such as equity crowdfunding loans, SME Investment Partner, namely the High Impact Programme 3 by SME Corp and Leading Entrepreneur Accelerator Platform with Bursa Malaysia. It includes enforcement of the SME Act apart from reducing the corporate tax rate to 18 per cent from 19 per cent for the first RM500,000 taxable income for SMEs, he added. Meanwhile, IX Telecom Chief Executive Officer Noor Mohd Helmi Nong Hadzmi said the company, established in 2006, had promoted the digital economy early in its startup and even before being recognised and promoted last year. As a company that makes available Internet and ICT solutions, IX Telecom hopes to move concurrently with SME Corp in respect of government initiatives to assist SMEs in digitising the Malaysian economy," he added. -- BERNAMA