TM's Explorace to help SMEs expand reach

KUALA LUMPUR: Telekom Malaysia Bhd (TM) yesterday held its inaugural "GLC Explorace 2013", a one-day event that allows small and medium businesses to expand their reach through opportunities offered by government-linked companies (GLCs).

Source from (Business Times): http://www.btimes.com.my/Current_News/BTIMES/articles/temy/Article/
Published: July 05, 2013

Held in collaboration with the International Trade and Industry Ministry (Miti), the programme comes under the ministry's Vendor Development Programme (VDP).

"TM is the first GLC to partner Miti and we hope more GLCs would come on board later," said deputy minister Datuk Hamim Samuri here yesterday.

He said from the launch of VDP in 1988 to December last year, 68 anchor companies and 946 vendors have signed up with the programme.


"Of these, 18 are GLCs. Unfortunately, only four GLCs are really committed to it. It is the ministry's hope that others will show similar commitment to a programme that has benefited quite a number of Bumiputeras," said Hamim.

TM chief executive officer Tan Sri Zamzamzairani Mohd Isa said TM has 600 vendors registered with it, a majority of whom are in the services business.

"Two of our vendors have expanded their businesses regionally and we hope that through programme such as this, others will tap the opportunities available and spread their wings, too," he said.

The GLC Explorace 2013 allows SMEs to expand their reach and network to a wider scope by exploring business opportunities with other GLCs and reduce dependencies between incumbents and their related vendors, he added.