CYBERJAYA: Malaysia Digital Economy Corporation (MDEC) welcomes the allocation of RM20 million for the Perkhidmatan e-Dagang Setempat (PeDAS) programme. The fund, which comes under the Economic Stimulus Package 2020, will be used to transform Pusat Internet Desa (PID) into e-commerce hubs. The bit will further galvanise digital transformation amongst micro-small-and-medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) in rural areas, in line with the rapid development in the e-commerce industry.
As an initiative designed to help rural MSMEs to market their products through e-commerce platforms, PeDAS was set up to help ease the burdens faced by entrepreneurs with no integrated support system or complete knowledge on digital marketing, branding, and certification to make their e-commerce business a success.
The allocation shows government’s level of seriousness to accelerate digital adoption, and in making Malaysia an e-commerce hub.
Currently, PeDAS is available at PIDs which serve as one-stop centres for MSMEs to hone their skills in e-commerce. This is a crucial first step in enabling MSMEs to gain access to global digital economy, as well as to encourage them to utilise the various applications and digital tools to expand and improve the efficiency of their respective businesses.
MDEC expects that more MSMEs will come forward to take this opportunity to strengthen their knowledge in e-commerce as this experience will give them a huge advantage and increase their chances of sustaining and succeeding in their businesses.
In addition to this, MDEC will be awarding 10,000 grants worth RM1,000 to local entrepreneurs for promoting products on e-commerce platforms.
Meanwhile, the allocation of RM50 million to subsidise short courses in digital skills and highly skilled courses that will benefit 100,000 Malaysians is also expected to complement MDEC’s digitally-skilled Malaysian initiatives under the talent development cluster of MDEC.
At the beginning of February, MDEC had announced its collaboration with Bank Simpanan Nasional and SME Bank to provide matching grants for SME entrepreneurs to enhance their use of digital applications in their daily business operations.
Under the strategic collaboration, MDEC will awards grants (limited to first 100,000 SMEs who apply to upgrade their systems) amounting to RM500 million over a period of five years.
In line with MDEC’s effort, Bank Negara Malaysia will be providing Automation and Digitalisation Facility for SME worth RM300 million at an interest cost of 4 per cent as part of its attempt to promote higher value-added investments in private sector. The Central Bank will also be providing accelerated capital allowances, over a two-year period, for expenses incurred on machinery and equipment including ICT.
The national digital economy will be further strengthened with support from the tourism industry as Malaysians will soon be eligible to receive digital vouchers for domestic tourism for up to RM100 per person for domestic flights, rails and hotel accommodations.
MDEC believes these announcements will boost its initiative in making Malaysia as the heart of digital ASEAN in driving digital investment and in the creation of digital high-value jobs for the nation.