KUALA LUMPUR: Most of the micro, small and medium enterprises (MSME) are still less competent and have to be empowered after being badly affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob said, the government has provided initiatives to modernise businesses with the application of the latest technology, digitalisation and further opening opportunities for MSME to explore the global market.
Ismail added, relating to the MSME’s current situation, the Malaysian Family Digital Economic Centre (PEDi) has been established to empower the small enterprises towards innovation and digital competency.
According to the Prime Minister, at the end of 2020, there were 1.2 million MSMEs or 97.2 per cent from the total of the whole industry.
“PEDi becomes one stop centre for small enterprises to be close to the digital economy. Various programmes are provided for small enterprises to start their businesses or to increase the demands for their products.
“It is our hope for small enterprises to spread their businesses to the level best using online access and e-commerce platform. The capabilities of small enterprises to adapt to digitalisation and technology development will increase their competencies and then lead the business in the long term,” he said in his speech.
The Prime Minister was speaking at the launching of the Malaysian Family Digital Economic Centre (PEDi) at the Community Hall, Kampung Durian Tawar, Bandar Bera, Pahang today.
Ismail added the small enterprise empowerment that is headed by the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) with the cooperation of agencies and industry players are targeting to have 800,000 small enterprises before 2025.
Meanwhile, PEDi is aimed at providing facilities to 15.4 million people in the country especially the B40 group and the rural community. PEDi’s goal is to increase the social economic level of the local community and giving exposure to digital skills so that all the people regardless of social and geographic position are able to participate and take the opportunity in the digital economy.
“About 873 existing PEDi will be elevated and reactivated to be one stop centre for rural digital economic activities. Every PEDi is accessible to the internet, digital infrastructure facilities and trained staff to provide services and the support needed by the local community.
“Besides that, 37 new PEDi will be opened in the first quarter of 2022 while 173 PEDi will be operating towards the end of 2022 and bringing the total to 1,083 PEDi nationwide,” Ismail said. – Malaysia World News
