Digital tech the way to go, SMEs told

KUCHING: Small and medium enterprises (SMEs) must embrace the development of digital technology in their businesses.

Ministry of International Trade, Industry and Investment (MINTRED) Datuk Seri Naroden Majais stressed the crucial role SMEs play in the country and the state’s economies, urging them to be proactive and wise in seeking business opportunities.

He noted that Sarawak was the first state in Malaysia to launch the use of the digital economy as a working platform in 2019, before the world was hit by the Covid-19 pandemic.

He said the state government, through MINTRED, launched the online business (BROSS) platform during Ramadan in 2019.

“It was to introduce the use of the digital platform for online business for traders during Ramadan.

“Through this initiative, they successfully generated a total business value of RM35 million in during Ramadan alone, proving that online business is highly effective and successful,” he said during the Digital Business Development Programme organised by the Telekom Malaysia (TM) Foundation and TM at the TM Sarawak Hub, Jalan Sultan Tengah, here yesterday (Jan 10).

Naroden noted that various forms of assistance were provided to SMEs through free courses and programmes such as Go Digital, Technical and Vocational Entrepreneurs (USTEV), Graduates Towards Entrepreneurship (GERAK), Small and Medium Industry Loan Scheme (SPIKS), Sarawak Micro Credit Scheme (SKMS) and Entrepreneur Group Economic Fund (TEKUN), including grant financing schemes and easy loans from Prihatin Malaysia.

“The world’s population will increase, and their demands and needs will undoubtedly rise.

“So, it should be seen as an opportunity for us to meet their increasing needs through the use of digital technology,” he added.

Naroden also stressed the use of phones and the internet nowadays is not just for communication but has become a part of everyday life.

According to him, phones and the internet were initially used for communication, then messaging, before connecting through various applications that can also send videos and record live.

“All of these are innovations in technology that are constantly happening, but what is important is that all these digital technology developments should be seen as a tool not only for social communication, sports, conducting research through Google, or YouTube but also capable of helping ourselves, especially in business.

“We can advertise our products, place orders for our raw products, change product ads, and make online payment transactions at any time.

“Compared to the old ways, it is slow, expensive, and has various problems if there are changes, while the use of the internet is fast, cheap, easy if there are changes, and can send pictures and videos,” he said.

Among those present were TM Sarawak general manager Abdul Rahman Taha, head of Business Unit TM Sarawak Abdul Bakar Abdul Aziz.