SMEs urged to leverage on Internet to help nation develop

Source From (Malaysia SME Online): http://www.malaysiasme.com.my/index.php/SME-News/SMEs-urged-to-leverage-on-Internet-to-help-nation-develop.html

Published: 2 February 2012

KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 31 -- Small and medium enterprises (SMEs) are encouraged to leverage on Internet usage as there are still untapped areas to benefit from, said Google Malaysia country manager, Sajith Sivanandan.

He said these untapped potentials would help the country leapfrog the development via the SMEs.
"Since innovation is the engine of growth, the first step in uncovering the potentials of the Internet is to lower any barriers to innovation," he said at a media briefing on the report, "Online and Upcoming: The Internet's Impact on Aspiring Countries", here Tuesday.

Also present was Deputy Minister for Information Communication and Culture, Datuk Joseph Salang.

Sajith said the Internet economy held the key to Malaysia's future growth.
"To continue on this trajectory, SMEs doing business online is crucial," he said.
He said the Internet has grown to become a major Malaysian industry and one that contributed more to gross domestic product (GDP) than US or China.

"The Internet contributed 4.1% of Malaysia's GDP in 2010, or US$9.75 billion (RM29.64 billion) out of US$238 billion.
Earlier, Salang said, online presence would enable businesses to reach out to not just the 17.5 million Malaysian users but also the two billion people globally.

He said currently, only 100,000 Malaysian SMEs had websites out of the 700,000 doing business.
"This is just a drop in the ocean when we consider that we have another 600,000 SMEs that do not have web presence," he said.
Salang said the Internet was the most cost-efficient way to test local products on the world stage and reach new markets.

"It is something the SMEs should capitalise on," he said.