Govt debt low, says PM

Source From (The Malay Mail): http://www.mmail.com.my/story/govt-debt-low-says-pm

Published: on 31 May 2012

Najib also announces double tax deduction on training costs for women re-employed after career break

by Bernama

KUALA LUMPUR: The government will ensure that Malaysia’s debt limit will not exceed 55% of gross domestic product (GDP) as part of its prudent management strategy in managing the nation’s finances, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak said yesterday.

The government has also taken steps to reduce its fiscal deficit in line with its commitment to ensure further growth, he said.

“Last year, the fiscal deficit stood at 4.8% of GDP,” Najib, who is also Finance Minister, said in his keynote address at the “Invest Malaysia 2012” conference.

FAR-SIGHTED: ‘I am determined to take tough 

decisions early to eliminate friction and to avoid 

problems further down the line, ’ says Najib

To ensure further growth in the country especially in capital market development, Najib announced five new initiatives, among which, included Bursa Malaysia being entrusted with the task of creating a new foundation, made up of key industry stakeholders, to address any growth gaps in the market.

Its specific focus would be on the growth of small-and-medium scale enterprises (SMES), marketplace innovation and the development of new and existing talents.

“To support this, the Capital Market Development Fund will be allocating a RM100 million grant for the establishment of the new foundation, which will be chaired by the Secretary-General of the Treasury.”

Najib also announced that from June 1, firms participating in the 1Malaysia Training Scheme programme can get double-tax deduction incentives on allowances and training expenses they incur.

The prime minister, who is also the acting Minister of Women, Family and Community Development, announced that double tax deduction incentives would also be provided for training expenditure incurred by companies re-employing women after a career break starting 2013.

“I would also encourage leading listed corporations to disclose, in their annual reports, policies such as flexible working arrangement they have put in place to help promote and support women.”

He said this kind of disclosure would help disseminate best practices across corporate Malaysia and the Ministry of Women, Family and Community Development have been asked to work alongside TalentCorp, to establish new platforms for corporates to share proven practices in this regard.

On the question of competitiveness and to eliminate sticky points so that issuers, intermediaries and investors have access to an efficient, effective and facilitative marketplace, the Second Finance Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Husni Hanadzlah have been asked to establish and head a Capital Market Task Force.

Meanwhile, the Securities Commission has been asked to embark on the establishment of a Consolidated Capital Market Compensation Fund which will consolidate the existing compensation scheme estimated at over RM420 million.

Najib said all these new initiatives are the core issues that needed to be tackled in order to push for sustainable growth.

“I am determined to take tough decisions early to eliminate friction and to avoid problems further down the line because now is the time to embark on an innovative and sustainable capital market development programme that will establish the Malaysian market as Asean’s multinational marketplace of choice.”

Najib also said as part of the process of deeper economic integration within Asean, the Bursa Malaysia, the Singapore Exchange and the Stock Exchange of Thailand are connecting their markets via the Asean Trading Link to create a US$1.3 trillion (RM4.1 trillion) virtual market.

He said this bigger, stronger trading platform would ensure Bursa Malaysia was best placed to face down competition not only from technology but from across border trading, dark pools and off-market platforms. “So none of us are standing still or taking our lot for granted.

The Asian Development Bank is right to caution that the ‘Asian century, through plausible, is by no means preordained’.

“But if we carry on as we are, committed to a steady path of liberalisation and reform, I am confident that this will at least be an Asian Pacific moment.”

PM - Fruitful meet at Invest Malaysia

Source From (The Star Online): http://biz.thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2012/5/31/business/11388871&sec=business

Published: on 31 May 2012

Several significant measures announced to address growth gaps in the market

AS expected, this year's Invest Malaysia drew a large crowd of investors, analysts and fund managers although it is likely that previous similar events had drawn larger crowds, according to observers.

Notably, several significant announcements were made by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak, including the setting up of a foundation to address growth gaps in the market, with specific focus on small and medium enterprises growth, marketplace innovation and the development of new and existing talent.

The Capital Market Development Fund would be allocating a RM100mil grant to set up the foundation.
The Prime Minister also said a consolidated capital market compensation fund would be set up and would serve as a one-stop centre for investor compensation across the capital market.

As at June 1, companies taking part in Skim Latihan 1Malaysia programme would be entitled to a double tax deduction incentive on allowances and training expenses to ensure the country has the highly-skilled workforce it needs.

To promote gender diversity, the Government would, starting next year, give double tax deduction incentive on training expenditures incurred by companies re-employing women after their career break.

At the conference, a number of companies gave updates on their operations. In general, most remained upbeat despite the economic concerns in external markets.

Some even noted that now is the best time to go shopping for good assets globally as prices have become “more real” as opposed to a few years back when prices were on an uptrend.

Interestingly, the euphoria from Invest Malaysia may have spilled over into the stock market. Beating the bearish trend elsewhere in the region, the benchmark FTSE Bursa Malaysia KL Composite Index inched up about 20 points over the last two days.

There was also a notable difference in the trading volume to more than 900 million shares per day in the past two days as opposed to significantly lesser than this in recent weeks.

The conference was also interspersed with light-hearted moments. In a question-and-answer session with the PM, a foreign participant highlighted to him that he had stayed in Malaysia for five years, adding that the country had treated him very well.

The participant, who was from the West, went on to say that other countries such as the United States, Australia and Europe would provide a person staying long haul in those countries with a permanent residency (PR) status or even a citizenship.

The participant hinted that he desired to be a citizen of Malaysia, adding that he had investments in several companies locally. Soon after, the moderator opened the floor for the next question from another participant, but not before the PM asked if he could offer that particular participant a PR.
The participant said “Yes”, and the PM said “Okay, I will get you a PR”.

Light-hearted moments aside, some participants felt that execution of the Government's policies remains a priority if the country wants to achieve its many objectives, one of which is becoming a high-income nation by 2020.

A fund manager summed it up best when he said: “We have good policies, great plans ... but execution ... can we do it?”

Malaysian capital mart needs spark to boost appeal

Source From (Business Times): http://www.btimes.com.my/Current_News/BTIMES/articles/wrap30/Article/

Published: on 31 May 2012

KUALA LUMPUR: The slew of announcements at this year's Invest Malaysia underscored a growing sense that the capital market needs an edge as greater liberalisation sets in region.

The plan for Bursa Malaysia Bhd to set up a foundation to address growth gaps in the market, with special focus on the growth of small- and medium-sized companies, will help build the country's competency and capability to compete.

Malaysia will also create a Capital Market Task Force, headed by the Finance Minister II, to ensure an efficient, effective and facilitative marketplace.

All eyes will be on whether, together, they may address problems or gaps that could help make Malaysia become a more attractive listing destination, for example. For now, big foreign companies going for a listing in this region seem to favour Singapore and Hong Kong.

The government's announcement on tax breaks for companies that train graduates and bring women back to work demonstrated its commitment to developing and optimising local talent.

As Talent Corp chief executive officer Johan Merican pointed out, getting companies to re-hire women is not a "welfare or corporate social responsibility" measure. It simply addresses the fact that women form a core part of Malaysian talent as they make up over 60 per cent of the enrolment in public universities.

At Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak's surprise dialogue session with the 2,000-odd participants of the conference, he hinted that the 30 per cent foreign shareholding cap on banks may be raised in the new future provided there was reciprocity in the region.

Analysts feel this provides a case for Singapore's DBS banking group to eventually enter into local lender Alliance Financial Group. "In return, the Singaporean government could potentially grant the likes of CIMB Group a Qualifying Full Bank operating licence that will significantly relax the restrictions on its number of permitted branches and service locations from two to 25," OSK Research noted.

The initiatives, five in all, announced by Najib at the event may not have been as market-moving or headline-grabbing as those of the previous years, but it has become clear that Invest Malaysia is no longer the main platform he uses to make big, splashy announcements.

Such announcements are now staggered over the year, along with regular updates on the Economic Transformation Programme.

CGC to enhance SME outreach

Source From (Business Times): http://www.btimes.com.my/Current_News/BTIMES/articles/cgc30/Article/

Published: on 31 May 2012

PETALING JAYA: Credit Guarantee Corp Malaysia Bhd (CGC) is confident 2012 will be an opportune time to continue with the implementation of its strategic initiatives to enhance its small and medium enterprise (SME) outreach and pursue financial sustainability agenda.

Its managing director/chief executive officer Datuk Wan Azhar Wan Ahmad said CGC will continue to engage in greater risk-sharing with the financial institutions.

"The corporation will continue to explore opportunities with partner banks by stepping up efforts to develop new and innovative products to better serve the needs of the underserved segments of SME sector," he said after the corporation's annual general meeting here yesterday.

Wan Azhar said these will be initiatives CGC will continue to undertake to meaningfully address the key concerns of SMEs. Bernama

CGC sasar jamin pinjaman RM3 bilion

Source From (Harian Metro): http://www.hmetro.com.my/myMetro/articles/CGCsasarjaminpinjamanRM3bilion/Article/index_html

Published: on 31 May 2012

CREDIT Guarantee Corporation Malaysia Bhd (CGC) meletakkan sasaran memberi jaminan pinjaman bernilai RM3 bilion bagi tahun kewangan semasa, sama seperti tahun sebelum ini.

Pengarah Urusan merangkap Ketua Pegawai Eksekutifnya, Datuk Wan Azhar Wan Ahmad, bagaimanapun berkata, pihaknya tetap berpuas hati sekiranya hanya mencapai antara RM2.5 bilion dan RM2.8 bilion.

“Secara tradisinya, kami sentiasa meletakkan sasaran jaminan pinjaman bernilai RM3 bilion. Bagaimanapun, tahun ini saya lihat lebih banyak peminjam yang menyertai skim kami tidak lagi terdesak memerlukan jaminan kami.

“Sama ada perniagaan mereka laris atau ekonomi bertambah baik, mereka tidak lagi memerlukan jaminan CGC dan boleh meminjam di luar skim. Maka, sungguhpun angka sasaran rasmi kekal RM3 bilion, kami akan berpuas hati jika hanya mencapai RM2.5 bilion hingga RM2.8 bilion. Apa yang penting, pinjaman tidak berbayar menurun 23 peratus,” katanya pada sidang media selepas mesyuarat agung tahunan CGC di Petaling Jaya, semalam.

Dalam perkembangan lain, beliau berkata, CGC optimis 2012 adalah tahun sesuai untuk meneruskan pelaksanaan inisiatif strategiknya meningkatkan capaian perusahaan kecil dan sederhananya (PKS) sekali gus meneruskan agenda kemampanan kewangan.

5 initiatives to spur capital market growth

Source From (The Sun Daily): http://www.thesundaily.my/news/391988

Published: on 30 May 2012
Premalatha Jayaraman
sunbiz@thesundaily.com

KUALA LUMPUR (May 30, 2012): The government has unveiled five initiatives to drive further growth in the capital market to ensure it remains competitive and continues to drive the country's economic and national agenda growth.

Announcing the initiatives in his keynote speech at Invest Malaysia 2012 here yesterday, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak said Bursa Malaysia has been tasked to set up a new foundation, made up of key industry stakeholders, to address any growth gaps in the market, with specific focus on small and medium enterprise (SME) growth, marketplace innovation and the development of new and existing talent.
To support this, he said the Capital Market Development Fund will allocate a RM100 million grant for the foundation, which will be chaired by the Treasury's secretary-general.

From June 1, he said, companies participating in the Skim Latihan 1Malaysia (SL1M) programme will be entitled to a double tax deduction incentive on allowances and training expenses.

"A private sector-led corporate service responsibility initiative to enhance the employability of both soft skills and on-the-job training is already revealing the true brilliance of thousands of unpolished gems," he said.
Najib also said that from next year, a double tax deduction initiative will be provided for training expenditure incurred by companies re-employing women after a career break to promote gender diversity in the workplace and to support women seeking to return to work.

"I would also encourage leading listed corporations to disclose in their annual reports, the policies such as flexible working arrangement, they have put in place to help promote and support women," he said.

In order to eliminate sticking points and to ensure that issuers, intermediaries and investors have access to an efficient, effective and facilitative marketplace, Najib asked Finance Minister II Datuk Seri Ahmad Husni Hanadzlah to establish and head a Capital Market Task Force.

He said the task force will make recommendations and identify clear implementation programmes to streamline regulatory and market management processes. This will be completed by the end of the third quarter, with a fully consolidated market framework in place by this time next year.

Najib said a Consolidated Capital Market Compensation Fund will be set up to consolidate the existing compensation scheme estimated at over RM420 million as well as to serve as a one-stop centre for investor compensation.

"Taken together, these are the core issues we need to tackle — issues that, left unaddressed, risk undermining the sustainable growth we seek. I am determined to take tough decisions early to eliminate friction and to avoid problems further down the line — because now is the time to embark on an innovative and sustainable capital market development programme that will established the Malaysian market as Asean's multinational marketplace of choice," he said.

"Going forward, I am determined to put our capital market in the best possible position to continue to drive Malaysia's economic growth and to put us a step ahead of the rest. We have made great strides with the various capital market reforms that we have introduced over the last few years and already they are making a big difference on the ground."

As part of the process of deeper economic integration within Asean, he said Bursa Malaysia, the Singapore Exchange and Stock Exchange of Thailand are connecting their markets via the Asean Trading Link to create a US$1.3 trillion virtual market.

He said this stronger trading platform will ensure Bursa Malaysia is best placed to face competition not only from technology but also from cross-border trading, dark pools and off-market platforms.

He also said the government will ensure that Malaysia's debt does not exceed 55% of the gross domestic product (GDP) through prudent management of the nation's finances.

He said the government has taken steps to reduce its fiscal deficit in line with its effort to ensure further growth. Last year, the fiscal deficit stood at 4.8% of GDP.

"Last year, growth in the Malaysian economy exceeded forecasts, expanding by a robust 5.1%, a trend that continued in the first quarter of this year as strong domestic demand and sustained trade saw our economy expand a further 4.7%," Najib said.

5 inisiatif baru perkukuh pasaran modal

Source From (Berita Harian): http://www.bharian.com.my/bharian/articles/5inisiatifbaruperkukuhpasaranmodal/Article

Published: on 30 May 2012
Oleh Faiza Zainudin, Ahmad Farizal Hajat dan Mahanum Abdul Aziz

Kerajaan laksana langkah pacu ekonomi, tingkat daya saing negara peringkat antarabangsa

DATUK Seri Najib Razak mengumumkan lima inisiatif baru bagi merangsang dan mengukuhkan lagi pasaran modal negara, justeru membolehkan ia kekal berdaya saing pada peringkat antarabangsa khususnya di ASEAN.

Perdana Menteri berkata, inisiatif itu dirangka khusus selaras dengan keperluan pelabur tempatan dan antarabangsa dalam pasaran modal tempatan dan pada masa sama mampu memacu ekonomi serta agenda pertumbuhan nasional. Inisiatif pertama membabitkan usaha menangani jurang pertumbuhan dalam pasaran dengan memberi tumpuan khusus kepada pertumbuhan perusahaan kecil dan sederhana (PKS), inovasi pasaran dan pembangunan bakat sedia ada dan baru.

Bagi tujuan itu, Najib berkata, kerajaan akan mengamanahkan Bursa Malaysia untuk menubuhkan sebuah yayasan baru, yang dianggotai pemegang kepentingan utama industri.

“Bagi menyokong usaha itu, kerajaan akan memberikan geran berjumlah RM100 juta kepada Dana Pembangunan Pasaran Modal (CMDF) bagi menubuhkan yayasan baru itu yang mana ia akan dipengerusikan oleh Ketua Setiausaha Perbendaharaan Negara,” katanya dalam ucaptama di persidangan Invest Malaysia 2012 di Kuala Lumpur semalam.

Inisiatif kedua pula, kerajaan akan memberikan pengurangan cukai dua kali ganda ke atas peruntukan dan perbelanjaan latihan yang digunakan syarikat yang menyertai program Skim Latihan 1Malaysia bermula 1 Jun ini.

Pengurangan cukai itu bertujuan menggalakkan lebih banyak syarikat korporat terbabit dalam program pembentukan kakitangan berkemahiran tinggi di samping membantu lepasan universiti, khusus-nya daripada keluarga berpendapatan sederhana dan rendah yang tinggal di luar bandar untuk mendapatkan pekerjaan.

Bagi inisiatif ketiga, sebagai usaha mempromosikan kepelbagaian gender dalam bidang pekerjaan dan membantu wanita yang ingin kembali semula ke dunia pekerjaan, kerajaan turut memberikan insentif pengurangan cukai berganda untuk perbelanjaan latihan yang digunakan oleh syarikat yang mengambil semula wanita yang berehat daripada kerjaya masing-masing, mulai 2013.

“Saya juga menggalakkan syarikat senaraian awam utama mendedahkan dalam laporan tahunan masing-masing, dasar aturan kerja anjal yang mereka tawarkan bagi membantu menyokong wanita,” kata Najib yang juga pemangku Menteri Wanita, Keluarga dan Pembangunan Masyarakat.

“Saya yakin dengan pendedahan itu ia akan membantu memperluaskan amalan korporat terbaik dalam pelbagai syarikat di Malaysia,” jelasnya, sambil menambah kementerian yang bertanggungjawab untuk wanita itu akan bekerjasama dengan TalentCorp bagi merealisasikan tujuan berkenaan.

Inisiatif keempat, kerajaan akan menubuhkan Pasukan Petugas Pasaran Modal dalam usaha menghapuskan kerenah birokrasi supaya penerbit, pengantara dan pelabur mempunyai akses kepada kecekapan, keberkesanan dan kemudahan pasaran.

Pasukan petugas yang akan diketuai oleh Menteri Kewangan Kedua, Datuk Seri Ahmad Husni Hanadzlah itu akan memberi cadangan dan mengenal pasti program pelaksanaan yang jelas bagi memperkemaskan dasar dan proses pengurusan pasaran, yang mana proses itu dijangka dimuktamadkan sebelum suku ketiga ini.

Bagi inisiatif kelima dan yang terakhir, bagi melindungi pelabur dan masyarakat awam, kerajaan mengamanahkan Suruhanjaya Sekuriti (SC) meningkatkan jumlah Dana Pampasan Pasaran Modal dalam pasaran modal tempatan.

Bagi tujuan itu, Najib berkata sebuah dana baru yang akan menggabungkan semua skim pampasan sedia ada akan ditubuhkan dengan membabitkan peruntukan lebih RM420 juta.

Dana itu akan berfungsi sebagai pusat sehenti untuk pelabur mendapatkan pampasan dalam seluruh pasaran modal.

“Semua inisiatif berkenaan diharap dapat menangani isu utama dalam pasaran modal tempatan bagi menggalakkan pertumbuhan mampan.

“Saya perlu membuat keputusan sukar seawal mungkin bagi mengurangkan ketegangan selain mengelak masalah yang lebih sukar berlaku dalam pasaran modal tempatan kerana saya yakin sekarang adalah masa untuk memulakan program pembangunan pasaran modal yang inovatif dan mampan yang akan menjadikan pasaran Malaysia sebagai pasaran pilihan multinasional ASEAN,” katanya.

Di samping itu Najib turut menegaskan kerajaan akan memastikan had hutang negara tidak melebihi paras 55 peratus daripada Keluaran Dalam Negara Kasar (KDNK).

Ia sejajar dengan strategi pengurusan berhemat dalam mengurus kewangan negara.
Perdana Menteri berkata, kerajaan juga mengambil langkah mengurangkan defisit fiskal bagi merangsang pertumbuhan ekonomi negara secara konsisten dan berterusan.

“Kerajaan sentiasa memastikan pasaran modal berada dalam kedudukan paling menarik bagi membantu memacu pertumbuhan ekonomi negara, sekali gus meletakkan negara selangkah lebih maju daripada negara lain,” katanya.

Tahun lalu, negara mencatatkan defisit fiskal sebanyak 4.8 peratus daripada KDNK berbanding lima peratus sebelumnya.

SL1M eyes 100 participating firms by year-end

Source From (The Malay Mail): http://www.mmail.com.my/story/sl1m-eyes-100-participating-firms-year-end

Published: on 30 May 2012

by Bernama

Location: 

MALACCA 

ABOUT 100 companies are expected to participate in the Skim Latihan 1Malaysia (SL1M) by year-end with the announcement of double tax deductions by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak today.

Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Tan Sri Nor Mohamed Yakcop said 49 firms, mainly government-linked companies (GLCs), are already in the scheme, and the incentives would encourage more firms to join in the initiative, which enhances the employability of Malaysian graduates with soft skills training and on-the-job placements.

Out of 90,000 graduates in the country, some 20,000 are jobless or underemployed, he said.

"For every RM1 spent by a company under the SL1M, it will get a RM2 tax deduction," he told reporters after a graduation ceremony for 202 SL1M-Telekom Malaysia Bhd (TM) trainees, who had undergone a two-month soft skills course, at the Multimedia University here today.

Najib announced the tax deduction incentive on allowances and training expenses for companies participating in the SL1M programme in his Invest Malaysia 2012 keynote address today.

Since its launch on June 1 last year, a total of 8,262 graduates have been in the scheme, and 3,879 or 47 per cent have secured employment, while 4,324 or 52.3 per cent are still undergoing training and the rest still waiting for job placements, with their details passed to JobsMalaysia, he said.

Skim Latihan 1Malaysia tawar diskaun cukai berganda

Source From (Sinar Online): http://www.sinarharian.com.my/bisnes/skim-latihan-1malaysia-tawar-diskaun-cukai-berganda-1.51944

Published: on 30 May 2012

MELAKA - Kira-kira 100 syarikat disasar menyertai Skim Latihan 1Malaysia (SL1M) menjelang akhir tahun ini berikutan pengumuman insentif potongan cukai berganda oleh Perdana Menteri Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak hari ini.
  
Menteri di Jabatan Perdana Menteri Tan Sri Nor Mohamed Yakcop berkata insentif itu dapat memberi galakan kepada syarikat sedia ada dan syarikat lain membantu graduan menganggur memperoleh pekerjaan.
  
Beliau berkata, pada masa ini, 49 syarikat kebanyakannya syarikat berkaitan kerajaan (GLC) telah menyertai SL1M secara tanggung jawab sosial.
  
"Ini bermakna setiap RM1 yang dibelanjakan pihak syarikat dalam SL1M selepas ini akan mendapat potongan cukai RM2," katanya kepada pemberita selepas majlis graduasi pelatih SL1M - Telekom Malaysia Berhad (TM) di Universiti Multimedia di sini hari ini.
  
Seramai 202 graduan kohort dua yang menjalani latihan kemahiran insaniah selama dua bulan dijalankan TM menerima sijil masing-masing pada majlis tersebut. 
  
Najib dalam ucapan dasar pada persidangan "Invest Malaysia 2012" hari ini mengumumkan bahawa mulai 1 Jun, syarikat yang menyertai program SL1M berhak mendapat insentif pengurangan cukai dua kali ke atas peruntukan dan perbelanjaan latihan yang digunakan.
  
Nor Mohamed berkata penyertaan lebih banyak syarikat dalam skim itu mampu membantu kira-kira 20,000 daripada 90,000 graduan di negara ini yang menghadapi masalah memperoleh pekerjaan atau bekerja tidak setaraf dengan kelayakan pada setiap tahun.
  
Beliau berkata sejak dilancarkan pada Jun tahun lepas, seramai 8,262 graduan telah diberi peluang menyertai SL1M dengan 3,879 atau 47 peratus peserta telah berjaya memperoleh pekerjaan.
  
Katanya 4,324 atau 52.3 peratus peserta pula masih aktif menjalani program latihan manakala selebihnya masih menunggu peluang pekerjaan dan maklumat mereka telah dipanjangkan kepada pihak JobsMalaysia bagi membantu menyuai padan pekerjaan yang sesuai.
  
Justeru, beliau menggesa syarikat-syarikat terutama pihak swasta agar menyertai skim itu bagi membantu pembangunan modal insan di negara ini. - Bernama

Hong Leong Bank eyes SME business

Source From (The Star Online): http://biz.thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2012/5/30/business/11382670&sec=business

Published: on 30 May 2012

KUALA LUMPUR: Hong Leong Bank Bhd is setting its sights on the country's small and medium enterprises (SMEs) sector now that the merger with EON Capital has been completed.

“If you look at the contribution of SMEs to the economy, ours is at about 31% and is projected to reach 41% by 2020. There is still a long way for our SMEs to grow. In countries like Singapore, Hong Kong and Thailand, their contribution to GDP is far larger,” the bank's chief operating officer of group business banking Peter Chow told StarBiz at the sidelines of Invest Malaysia 2012.

“We have set up 49 of our branches to be turned into SME branches and by September we should have 51 of them,” he said, adding that 145 branches would eventually be set up.

“In terms of coverage we have the edge over our competitors. SMEs' needs are rather simple, such as term loans to buy machinery or for working capital, so the key is a fast turnaround time.”

 

Chia and COO global markets Hor Kwok Wai at the exclusive interview.

 

According to the bank's group managing director and chief executive Datuk Yvonne Chia, the crux of the strategy was “for our people to go down to the ground because the infrastructure will be there.”

“In many ways our SMEs have become global SMEs, which speaks very well for the Malaysian business psyche. I've seen a lot of our clients reach that calibre,” she said.

Hong Leong Bank ranks second in Malaysia in terms of its branch network, and post-acquisition of EON Cap, the fourth largest bank by assets and customer deposits.

Chia is also upbeat that the investments created by the Economic Transformation Plan would have a spillover effect on the SME sector.

“I hope to benefit from the supply chain, the mom and pop businesses that will be hired as the subcontractors from the various projects,” she said.

On Bank Negara's responsible lending guidelines, COO of personal financial services Moey Tan explained: “The new guidelines have definitely had their desired effect and have taken a toll on consumer loans in general. I don't think we've seen the full impact yet, we will see it in the next three to six months.”

Perbadanan Nasional aims to develop more franchise entrepreneurs

Source From (Business Times): http://www.btimes.com.my/Current_News/BTIMES/articles/SME28/Article/index_html

Published: on 28 May 2012
By Cheryl Yvonne Achu

KUALA LUMPUR: Some people are contemplating making it out on their own, whether forced by uncertainty in economy, unpredictable career prospects or constantly being frustrated with the job market.


For some, entrepreneurship is the best option to build wealth and do something that one loves without answering to somebody else.

"There is nothing like having your own business and enjoying the rewards that go along with it," said Perbadanan Nasional Bhd (PNS) managing director Syed Kamarulzaman Syed Zainal Khodki Shahabudin.

He added, "When you think about an entrepreneur, you most likely picture a person who is extremely busy and always on the go."

However, Syed Kamarulzaman said entrepreneurship does not mean one has to be a slave to work. Rather, one has to be a good manager of how to use one's time wisely and efficiently.

"Being an entrepreneur means your actions and efforts dictate the potential outcome of your journey," he said in an interview with Business Times recently.

Entrepreneurs are important for the country's economic growth and according to Syed Kamarulzaman, schools and universities should do more to encourage entrepreneurship among the young people.

"We have people with potential in our own country and I think more needs to be done at an earlier stage to nurture new business talent in the education system.

"We need to help young people to become more employable and develop practical skills that can make a difference between a slide into benefit dependency and a ladder to economic opportunity," he said.

Syed Kamarulzaman said PNS aims to develop more franchise entrepreneurs to drive the growth of the country's franchise industry.

"One of the main objectives of PNS is to develop local products and market them abroad," he said, adding that through franchise, small and medium entrepreneurs will have a wider reach of their products and customer base as well as penetrate international markets.

To propel the local franchise business to a higher level and encourage more SMEs into the business, PNS has introduced a scheme called micro franchise.

"Through micro franchise, SMEs can venture into any kind of franchise business with a minimum capital outlay of about RM50,000 and they need not have a wide business experience," Syed Kamarulzaman said.

Under this scheme, the established franchise players are required to come out with smaller and affordable franchise concepts like the kiosk concept to encourage people to participate in the business. Prospective franchisees can enjoy a low interest rate of three per cent for loans.

"This will also encourage local franchise businesses to expand their wings abroad and benefit the country in terms of inflow of funds from royalties received," he said.

Currently, there are 48 franchise brands under this scheme. Among them are Sugarbun, Nelson's and Marrybrown Fried Chicken.

Dana bantu francaisor masih berbaki RM7.5j

Source From (Berita Harian): http://www.bharian.com.my/bharian/articles/DanabantufrancaisormasihberbakiRM7_5j/Article

Published: on 28 May 2012
Oleh Shahrizan Salian

PERBADANAN Nasional Bhd (PNS) masih mempunyai dana berjumlah RM7.5 juta bagi membantu francaisor tempatan meneroka peluang mengembangkan perniagaan masing-masing ke luar negara.

Jumlah itu sebahagian daripada peruntukan RM10 juta yang disediakan kerajaan di bawah Dana Perkembangan Luar Negara yang kali pertama diperkenalkan pada Oktober tahun lalu. Pengarah Urusannya, Syed Kamarulzaman Syed Zainol Khodki Shahabudin, berkata dana berkenaan antara sokongan yang disediakan pihaknya untuk membantu perkembangan francaisor tempatan menembusi pasaran luar negara.

“Perlu diingat pasaran di Malaysia hanya terdapat 28 juta penduduk. Jika ke China atau India, jumlah penduduknya satu bilion dan jumlah penduduk dunia adalah tujuh bilion.

“Maka, francaisor tempatan tidak sepatutnya memberi tumpuan kepada pasaran domestik kerana pasaran yang sebenarnya di luar sana,” katanya dalam satu temubual bersama kumpulan akhbar The New Straits Times Press (M) Bhd (NSTP) di ibu pejabat baru PNS di Bangsar South, baru-baru ini.

PNS, agensi kerajaan yang diberi mandat untuk menerajui pembangunan industri francais itu turut bertanggungjawab membantu francaisor dan francaisi bagi francais tempatan mengembangkan perniagaan ke luar negara.

Syarikat francais terutama milik Bumiputera yang layak serta mempunyai operasi perniagaan kukuh masih boleh memohon Dana Perkembangan Luar Negara yang pertama kali diperkenalkan itu.

Syed Kamarulzaman berkata, meskipun PNS menyediakan sokongan dalam bentuk kewangan dan khidmat nasihat, pengusaha francais tempatan yang berhasrat mengembangkan perniagaan ke luar negara perlu mengambil kira tiga faktor penting sebelum berbuat demikian.

Faktor berkenaan katanya, adalah mereka perlu terlebih dulu mendaftar tanda niaga masing-masing untuk mengelakkan masalah melanggar peraturan, memahami terlebih dulu keperluan pasaran di negara yang mahu diteroka serta mendapatkan garis panduan menjalankan perniagaan di kawasan itu.

“Mereka perlu memahami sepenuhnya keperluan yang ada di negara itu,” katanya.

Mengulas lanjut mengenai Dana Perkembangan Luar Negara, beliau berkata nilai peruntukan maksimum yang boleh dipohon francaisor adalah RM1 juta dengan modal pembiayaan ideal adalah 50:50, iaitu separuh daripada keperluan modal pemohon.

Katanya, tempoh bayaran balik pula lebih panjang berbanding dana lain disediakan PNS iaitu antara lima ke tujuh tahun, dengan caj kadar keuntungan dikenakan adalah enam peratus.

“Jumlah peruntukan di bawah dana ini sebahagian daripada RM40 juta ke RM50 juta yang disasar PNS diberikan kepada francaisor menerusi tujuh dana yang disediakan,” katanya.

Setakat ini terdapat 245 francaisi dan 46 francaisor tempatan yang beroperasi di lebih 50 negara membabitkan 1,393 jumlah outlet.

PNS juga bertanggungjawab dalam sesi padanan perniagaan serta sesi forum perniagaan bagi setiap misi perdagangan di luar negara.

Bentuk sistem mentor mentee galak guna web

Source From (Harian Metro): http://www.hmetro.com.my/myMetro/articles/Bentuksistemmentormenteegalakgunaweb/Article/index_html

Published: on 28 May 2012

YAYASAN Muamalat Belia (YMB) mencadangkan kepada pihak kerajaan untuk membentuk sistem mentor mentee bagi menggalakkan pemain perusahaan kecil dan sederhana (PKS) tempatan terutama di kalangan Bumiputera menggunakan laman web sebagai medium dalam urusan perniagaan.

Ketua Pegawai Eksekutifnya, Noor Azman Idris berkata, isu kekurangan dana untuk membangunkan laman web bagi perniagaan bukan menjadi masalah kepada PKS, tetapi kekurangan maklumat kepentingan laman web sebagai satu medium penting masih lagi belum dapat disampaikan sepenuhnya kepada golongan terbabit.

Noor Azman mengulas laporan syarikat Internet terkemuka, Google yang mendapati penggunaan laman web di kalangan PKS di Malaysia menunjukkan kurang 10 peratus daripada 700,000 keseluruhannya sedangkan ia mampu menarik dua bilion orang pengguna di serata dunia jika laman web digunakan sebagai medium dalam urusan perniagaan.

Katanya, sistem mentor mentee dapat membantu dan membimbing golongan PKS Bumiputera untuk mendapat maklumat mengenai kepentingan laman web dan cara pengoperasian dalam perniagaan.

“Bagi golongan usahawan muda ia bukan menjadi satu masalah membangunkan laman web berbentuk perniagaan, tetapi ia berlaku ke atas PKS yang masih menjalankan perniagaan secara konvensional iaitu golongan lama. “Saya melihat, jika PKS Bumiputera baru dan lama bergabung idea dalam sistem mentor dan mentee ia boleh mencapai satu operasi perniagaan yang dinamik iaitu golongan lama yang mempunyai pengalaman dapat memberi bimbingan kepada golongan muda untuk menjadi usahawan dan golongan muda boleh memberi idea kepada golongan lama,” katanya.

Gabem: Generasi muda Melayu, bumiputera perlu berusaha tingkatkan ekonomi kaum mereka

Source From (Sinar Online): http://www.sinarharian.com.my/bisnes/gabem-generasi-muda-melayu-bumiputera-perlu-berusaha-tingkatkan-ekonomi-kaum-mereka-1.51436

Published: on 27 May 2012

KUANTAN - Generasi muda Melayu dan Bumiputera digesa memilih bidang keusahawanan dan perniagaan dalam usaha meningkatkan pendapatan ekonomi kaum mereka supaya setara dengan kedudukan ekonomi kaum Cina.
  
Pengerusi Gagasan Badan Ekonomi Melayu (Gabem) Tan Sri Abdul Rahim Tamby Chik berkata anak muda Melayu dan Bumiputera perlu sedar bahawa kaum mereka jauh ketinggalan berbanding kaum Cina dalam bidang ekonomi di mana penyertaan kaum Melayu hanyalah 23 peratus pada masa kini.
  
"Kita mahu melihat generasi muda memilih bidang perniagaan atau keusahawanan sebagai kerjaya mereka selepas menamatkan pelajaran di universiti.
  
"Sampai bila kita nak jadi pekerja kerajaan atau swasta, tak kan sampai mati kerana sebuah bangsa tidak akan maju dan kuat ekonominya jika bilangan usahawan dalam masyarakat itu tidak bertambah," katanya kepada pemberita selepas merasmikan Program Memperkasa Model Baru Ekonomi di sini hari ini.
  
Menurut Rahim, perubahan sikap oleh generasi muda itu perlu dilahirkan sekarang kerana hasrat untuk melihat ekonomi bangsa Melayu meningkat tidak akan tercapai sekiranya mereka masih menunjukkan sikap tidak acuh dengan keadaan kedudukan ekonomi sekarang.

Beliau berkata tempat generasi muda Melayu dan Bumiputera bukan di lokasi perhimpunan haram  atau melepak bersama golongan yang tidak mahu melihat bangsa Melayu maju.
  
"Kita tidak mahu lihat generasi muda mensia-siakan kehidupan mereka kerana terpengaruh dengan tindakan orang yang tidak berminat melihat kita tebus balik kedudukan atau maruah ekonomi kita di mana golongan itu suka lihat generasi muda ini terpesong melakukan kegiatan politik yang membazirkan masa dan merosakkan diri," katanya.
  
Menurutnya golongan muda seharusnya menghayati semangat patriotisme ekonomi Bumiputera sebagai penghayatan untuk membawa mereka berusaha meningkatkan ekonomi Melayu pada tahap tertinggi. - Bernama

Microsoft-MDeC Partnership Empowers SMEs with Azure

Source From (My Gadgets): http://www.mygadgets.my/product.php?id=1746&title=Microsoft-MDeC_Partnership_Empowers_SMEs_with_Azure/Article/index_html

Published: on 26 May 2012

Microsoft Malaysia has recently announced its collaboration with Multimedia Development Corporation (MDeC) to accelerate the development and production of made-in-Malaysia software and services on the Cloud. 

The partnership, in the form of The Azure Power Programme, is designed to address the issue of improving competitiveness among local small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the IT sector through the adoption of Cloud Computing into their business processes.

This joint venture will see an investment of RM1.1 million being set aside to be used in boosting the Cloud ecosystem for SMEs.

"As Malaysian companies prepare to engage and compete on a global level, many are keen to jump onto the Cloud bandwagon. Results from a recent that Forrester Consulting carried out on Clod adoption among local businesses has revealed that 64% of Malaysian companies are either currently using or actively planning their own Cloud initiatives. It is against this backdrop that MDeC welcomes Microsoft´s Azure Programme as one of the key infrastructure partners into the MSC Malaysia Cloud Onboarding Programme (COP). The core aim of this effort is to prepare and energise the Malaysian Cloud ecosystem," said Dato´ Badlisham Ghazali, CEO, MDeC.

This will be carried out by supporting the local software economy and enabling the local independent software vendors (ISVs) with the skills, mindset, and technology they need to provide world-class Cloud-powered services and business operations.

Microsoft´s Azure Progamme, which will be a key industry partner in the MSC Malaysia COP, is designed to provide comprehensive end-to-end assistance for these ISVs to develop, build, and adopt the applications they need to improve their businesses as well as their service offerings.

According to Microsoft and MDeC, this is the first step of a three-part transformation process that is designed to revolutionise the Malaysian economy. The other two steps are: product/service acceleration phase and going to market (labelled as Cloud to market).

"This first step is particularly important because most ISVs assume that providing Cloud services merely means putting applications and solutions on the Web. However, there is more to that than just going onto the Internet. There is an inherent need to undergo a fundamental paradigm shift towards a software-as-a-service business model, which has its own considerations for pricing, cost of ownership, and value propositions. That is why this programme goes beyond providing technological infrastructure - business content training must also be included," said Ananth Lazarus, Managing Director, Microsoft Malaysia.

That is where the second and third phase come in, providing ample support to the ISVs through financial support (up to RM27,000 worth of subscription funding for the Windows Azure platform) and giving them additional commercialisation assistance to bring their products to market.

"This is how we at Microsoft and MDeC plan to help local ISVs as well as related businesses to harness the power of the Cloud and bring them up to global standards so they will be openly competitive with the world," added Ananth

Wanita perlu tingkat kualiti diri

Source From (Sinar Online): http://www.sinarharian.com.my/bisnes/wanita-perlu-tingkat-kualiti-diri-1.51064

Published: on 26 May 2012
Wartawan Sinar Harian

PERBADANAN Perusahaan Kecil dan Sederhana Malaysia (SME Corp Malaysia) menyarankan wanita yang ingin berjaya perlu meningkatkan kualiti diri dalam segala aspek.

Ketua Pegawai Eksekutifnya, Datuk Hafsah Hashim menegaskan wanita tidak boleh terlalu bergantung harap kepada kelayakan akademi yang cemerlang dan paras rupa semata-mata.

“Wanita perlu bijak menangani segala cabaran, oleh itu mereka perlu ada kemahiran dan memiliki dana kewangan. Kemampuan kewangan adalah kunci kejayaan yang boleh membantu mereka berkembang, terutama ke pasaran luar,” katanya selepas forum anjuran SME Corp “E3 Women’s”, bertema “Pengupayaan Dari Segi Elektronik dan Ekonomi”, di Kuala Lumpur.

Hafsah turut menekankan pentingnya usahawan wanita mencari peluang meluaskan pasaran, bukan hanya di peringkat domestik.

Beliau berkata, 87 peratus wanita di Malaysia kini terlibat dalam sektor perkhidmatan, tujuh peratus perkilangan dan enam peratus dalam agrikultur.

RM100,000 boost for SME export development

Source From (Business Times): http://www.btimes.com.my/Current_News/BTIMES/articles/jrmdg/Article/index_html

Published: on 25 May 2012
BY JUNE RAMLEE

GOVERNMENT GRANT: RM52 million allocation for this year, says minister 
 
THE Market Development Grant (MDG), which provides a matching grant to assist small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) undertake promotional activities for the development of exports, will be raised from RM30,000 to RM100,000 effective from July 1 this year.

International Trade and Industry Minister Datuk Seri Mustapa Mohamed said the government has set aside RM52 million for this year's MDG.

"Last year, the allocation stood at RM20 million with a total of 1,300 companies benefiting from it. But this year from July onwards, we will increase it to RM52 million," he told reporters after launching the Trade Financing Seminar for SME Exporters yesterday.

He said up to April 30 this year, 631 SMEs have utilised the grant, which is managed by Malaysian External Trade Development Corporation (Matrade).

Under the MDG, companies will be reimbursed up to 50 per cent of the total cost incurred by them when they attend trade fairs abroad.

Mustapa said the new allocation would allow SMEs to claim for overseas supermarket or hypermarket listing fee; international patent, trademark and intellectual property registration, international certification overseas and initial set-up cost of representative office overseas for service providers.

He said that services companies with annual sales turnover of less than RM25 million (previously less than RM5 million) and with fewer than 150 employers (previously 50 employees) would be eligible to apply for these grants online.

On Malaysia's trade with China, Mustapa said it has not been badly affected by the economic slowdown in both China and Europe.

"Trade (overall) will still grow between five and six per cent per annum this year. That is our forecast for the whole year," he said.

On the first quarter gross domestic product growth (GDP) of 4.7 per cent announced by Bank Negara Malaysia recently, Mustapa said that he was optimistic despite the present economic uncertainties.

"Malaysia recorded a rather encouraging performance in private investment. This is a good showing and reflects mature investment," he said.

However, the first quarter GDP growth of 4.7 per cent was lower when compared with the 5.1 per cent growth recorded in the same quarter of last year and the 5.2 per cent growth registered in the fourth quarter of 2011.

Had kelayakan MDG RM100,000 mulai Julai

Source From (Berita Harian): http://www.bharian.com.my/bharian/articles/HadkelayakanMDGRM100_000mulaiJulai/Article

Published: on 25 May 2012
Oleh Mahanum Abdul Aziz

Penambahan dana galak PKS teroka pasaran global

BERKUAT kuasa 1 Julai ini, had kelayakan bagi geran pembangunan pasaran (MDG) dinaikkan kepada RM100,000 berbanding hanya RM30,000 sebelum ini. Sejajar dengan itu, kerajaan menambah peruntukan bagi geran itu kepada RM52 juta daripada RM20 juta.

Menteri Perdagangan Antarabangsa dan Industri, Datuk Seri Mustapa Mohamed, berkata syarikat yang layak memohon geran itu juga diperluaskan bagi meliputi syarikat perkhidmatan yang mempunyai pendapatan jualan kurang daripada RM25 juta dan kakitangan kurang daripada 150 orang.

Katanya, sebelum ini, bagi penyedia perkhidmatan, syarikat yang layak hanyalah yang mempunyai pendapatan jualan kurang daripada RM5 juta dan mempunyai pekerja kurang daripada 50 orang.

“Bermula tahun ini, kerajaan sudah meningkatkan jumlah peruntukan MDG dengan ketara kepada RM52 juta berbanding RM20 juta sebelum ini bagi membantu syarikat perusahaan kecil dan sederhana (PKS) menggiatkan lagi usaha pemasaran produk mereka ke luar negara,” katanya pada sidang media selepas merasmikan seminar mengenai Pembiayaan Perdagangan kepada Pengeksport SME di Kuala Lumpur semalam.

Mustapa berkata, bermula tahun ini, koperasi yang mengeksport produk keluaran Malaysia juga layak untuk memohon geran itu.

Jelasnya, antara syarat penggunaan geran itu ialah untuk membayar yuran penyenaraian di pasar raya atau pasar raya besar di luar negara, pendaftaran paten antarabangsa, cap dagang, harta intelek serta kos permulaan bagi membuka pejabat cawangan di luar negara bagi penyedia perkhidmatan.

“Saya berharap dengan pertambahan peruntukan geran ini (MDG) serta perubahan kelayakan memohonnya, ia akan menggalakkan lebih banyak PKS di negara ini untuk meneroka pasaran antarabangsa secara lebih agresif,” katanya.

Tahun lalu, 1,300 syarikat PKS mendapat manfaat daripada geran itu dengan nilai keseluruhan sebanyak RM12.34 juta. Bagi tahun ini pula, sebanyak 631 lagi PKS sudah menerima geran berkenaan. 

Geran Pembangunan Pasaran

Source From (Utusan Malaysia): http://www.utusan.com.my/utusan/info.asp?y=2012&dt=0524&pub=Utusan_Malaysia&sec=Ekonomi&pg=ek_03.htm

Published: on 25 May 2012
Oleh FAIRUS KASSIM
bisnes@utusan.com.my

Mustapa Mohamed bersama Pengerusi Perbadanan Pembangunan 

Perdagangan Luar Malaysia (Matrade) , Datuk Mah Siew Keong 

(tengah) dan Timbalan Pengarah 2 Matrade , Datuk Zakariah 

Kamarudin melakukan gimik pelancaran Aplikasi Mobile Matrade 

di Kuala Lumpur, semalam. 

KUALA LUMPUR 24 Mei - Kerajaan hari ini mengumumkan nilai siling bagi Geran Pembangunan Pasaran untuk perusahaan kecil dan sederhana (PKS) ditingkatkan kepada RM100,000 untuk setiap syarikat berbanding RM30,000 sebelum ini, berkuatkuasa 1 Julai ini.

Syarat maksimum perolehan tahunan syarikat untuk setiap permohonan turut dinaikkan daripada RM5 juta kepada RM25 juta bagi menarik lebih banyak syarikat dalam sektor perkhidmatan untuk menerokai pasaran luar negara.

Jumlah maksimum pekerja juga ditingkatkan daripada 50 pekerja kepada 150 pekerja dalam syarat geran baru berkenaan.

Menteri Perdagangan Antarabangsa dan Industri, Datuk Seri Mustapa Mohamed berkata, bagi menampung peningkatan tersebut, jumlah keseluruhan geran turut bertambah daripada RM20 juta pada 2011 kepada RM50 juta tahun ini.

Katanya, peningkatan nilai siling dan maksimum perolehan dibuat berdasarkan maklum balas PKS khususnya dalam sektor perkhidmatan yang sebelum ini gagal memohon bantuan berikutan syarat maksimum yang ditetapkan terlalu rendah.

"Oleh itu, dengan geran baru ini, diharapkan lebih ramai usahawan sektor perkhidmatan mengeksport produk mereka ke luar negara bermula tahun ini," katanya pada sidang akhbar selepas merasmikan seminar Kewangan Perdagangan untuk Eksport PKS, di sini hari ini.

Pada 2011, geran yang sama bernilai RM20 juta berjaya membantu 1,300 PKS dan perangkaan itu dijangka meningkat kepada 1,800 PKS pada tahun ini.

Mengulas mengenai jangkaan Bank Dunia terhadap kejatuhan eksport ke China pada tahun ini, beliau berkata, impaknya tidak membimbangkan Malaysia.

"Setakat ini perkara berkenaan tidak besar kepada kita, dan kerajaan ketika ini sedang berusaha menguatkan pelaburan serta permintaan domestik.

"Sektor pelaburan domestik tumbuh 90 peratus diikuti sektor pembinaan 15 peratus. Pelaburan langsung asing juga mencatatkan RM7.5 bilion pada suku pertama. Ekonomi kita agak baik ketika ini" katanya.

Tambah beliau lagi, walaupun berdepan dengan kemelut berkenaan kerajaan masih optimis untuk mencapai sasaran pertumbuhan eksport antara lima hingga enam peratus pada tahun ini ke negara berkenaan.

Siling Geran Pembangunan PKS kini RM100,000

Source From (Utusan Malaysia): http://www.utusan.com.my/utusan/info.asp?y=2012&dt=0524&pub=Utusan_Malaysia&sec=Ekonomi&pg=ek_03.htm

Published: on 25 May 2012

KUALA LUMPUR 24 Mei - Kerajaan hari ini mengumumkan nilai siling bagi Geran Pembangunan Pasaran untuk perusahaan kecil dan sederhana (PKS) dinaikkan kepada RM100,000 bagi setiap syarikat berbanding RM30,000 sebelum ini.

Geran baru berkenaan akan berkuat kuasa 1 Julai ini dan syarat perolehan tahunan syarikat yang memohon juga dinaikkan daripada maksimum RM5 juta sebelum ini kepada RM25 juta. - UTUSAN

Kekal unjuran pertumbuhan dagangan hingga 6 peratus

Source From (Berita Harian): http://www.bharian.com.my/bharian/articles/Kekalunjuranpertumbuhandaganganhingga6peratus/Article

Published: on 25 May 2012

KERAJAAN mengekalkan unjurannya bagi pertumbuhan perdagangan antara lima dan enam peratus tahun ini meskipun ekonomi kedua terbesar dunia, China dijangka mencatatkan pertumbuhan perlahan.

Menteri Perdagangan Antarabangsa dan Industri, Datuk Seri Mustapa Mohamed berkata, ini kerana unjuran itu telah dibuat dengan mengambil kira pertumbuhan perlahan ekonomi global berikutan krisis hutang Eropah dan kelembapan ekonomi Amerika Syarikat (AS) serta China. Beliau berkata, kerajaan percaya nilai perdagangan Malaysia dengan China tahun ini tidak akan terjejas teruk kerana ekonomi kedua terbesar dunia itu masih mampu mencatatkan pertumbuhan meskipun berdepan persekitaran yang mencabar.

“Jumlah nilai dagangan keseluruhan dijangka berkembang antara lima hingga enam peratus tahun ini. Adalah perkara biasa bagi jumlah dagangan bulanan menunjukkan turun naik tetapi unjuran bagi keseluruhan tahun ini adalah kekal pada antara lima dan enam peratus,” katanya pada sidang media selepas merasmikan seminar mengenai Pembiayaan Perdagangan kepada Pengeksport PKS yang dianjurkan Perbadanan Pembangunan Perdagangan Luar Malaysia (Matrade) di Kuala Lumpur semalam.

Pada 2011, Malaysia terus mencatatkan nilai perdagangan luar tertinggi sebanyak RM1.269 trilion, meningkat 8.7 peratus daripada RM1.168 trilion pada 2010. 

High costs drive Korean SMEs to Malaysia

Source From (Business Times): http://www.btimes.com.my/Current_News/BTIMES/articles/pnchy/Article/

Published: on 25 May 2012

KUALA LUMPUR: The high cost of doing business in South Korea has prompted many of its small and medium size entrepreneurs (SMEs) to move to Malaysia to tap into the growth of the Southeast Asian market.

To date, there are more than 5,000 South Korean SMEs operating in the country, particularly in electrical and electronics goods, fashion and cosmetics and other consumer products.

The "Malaysia My Second Home" programme, and the lower cost of living here, has attracted some 25,000 South Koreans to reside in the country.

"Malaysia is also seen as a platform to tap into the growth in China and India. This presents a lot of opportunities to South Korean SMEs," said regional director of Gyeonggi Business Centre, Southeast Asia, Patrick On recently.

In identifying niche opportunities, the South Korean government also provides incentives to companies that want to venture into the halal market.


"With the Malaysian halal certificate being recognised in most markets and the country's close relations with the OIC (Organisation of Islamic Cooperation) countries, these South Korean SMEs are more drawn to set-up companies here," he said.

In addition, with the popularity of the K Pop or the Korean music culture in Malaysia there has been an increase in demand for Korean fashion, cosmetics and food, among others.

 

 

 On expressed his hope that the Ministry of International Trade and Industry will be more aggressive in encouraging South Korean companies to set up base here by providing tax incentives.

Currently, South Korea ranked number seven as an import source to Malaysia, while Malaysia accounted for 5.4 per cent or US$10 billion (RM31 billion) of South Korea's total exports.

The Gyeonggi Business Centre Kuala Lumpur (GBC KL) is the Southeast Asia business hub, representing the Gyeonggi provincial government, assisting South Korean SMEs to penetrate the Southeast Asian market via promotion of regular trade missions with local buyers and host specialised trade meets with respective local industries.

Through business collaborations with the Korean Gyeonggi provincial government, GBC KL is able to provide a huge sourcing database of about 3,000 South Korean SMEs seeking marketing partners in the region.

Cisco upbeat on revenue from SMEs

Source From (Business Times): http://www.btimes.com.my/Current_News/BTIMES/articles/ciscomcopy/Article/

Published: on 25 May 2012
By Goh Thean EU

KUALA LUMPUR: Cisco Systems Inc, the world's largest maker of computer-networking equipment, believes that local small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) have the potential to be its biggest revenue contributors in the Malaysian market over the medium to long term.

Currently, the company's biggest revenue generator is the enterprise segment.

"SMEs play a key role in the country's economy, so they certainly have the potential to be our largest revenue contributors one day, especially when they leverage on technologies to increase their competitiveness," said Yuri Wahab, managing director of Cisco Malaysia, in an interview with Business Times recently.

In Malaysia, SMEs make up more than 99 per cent of businesses, or over 567,480 establishments. They contribute some 40 per cent to the country's economy.


Starting this year, Cisco will place heavy focus on growing the SME segment. This includes the unveiling of several products and solutions, specially developed for the SME market - such as unified communications (UC) and cloud solutions.

UC solutions, which for many years has been a technology that can only be enjoyed by the larger-sized companies, are now becoming more affordable for the SME market.

With Cisco's UC solutions, companies will be able to perform a high-quality video conference call on their fixed-line office phone, laptops, or even tablets. They are also able to share documents or presentation slides live via the UC solutions, without any interruption to the video conferencing experience.

Such solutions are useful when one wants to hold a meeting with its employees or clients from different location, simultaneously.

Yuri said that the increasing demand for UC solutions by SMEs are partly driven by the increasing competition as well as the improving broadband infrastructure in the country.

"The rolling out of high-speed broadband (HSBB) infrastructure as well as the improvement in wireless broadband coverage by the mobile operators, gives more companies the ability and better affordability to use UC solutions," he added.

Besides UC, another key trend that Cisco Malaysia is banking on is the growth in cloud services.

Reports indicated that adoption of cloud services in the US, which was at over 70 per cent in 2011, will grow to 98 per cent by 2015. While the adoption rate in Malaysia is not expected to be as high as what the US will be experiencing, its growth potential is undeniable.

Over the next few months, Cisco will be releasing a few new UC and cloud solutions for the SME market. These solutions will be marketed and sold via its partners, including Telekom Malaysia Bhd.

Cisco sells most of its products via its partners. It rarely serves customers direct - with a small number of the biggest clients being the exception.

Miti allocates RM3m to train your entrepreneurs

Source From (Business Times): http://www.btimes.com.my/Current_News/BTIMES/articles/mukzh/Article/

Published: on 25 May 2012



PUTRAJAYA: The Ministry of International Trade and Industry, through its entrepreneur development division (BPU), is allocating about RM3 million to train and provide courses to young entrepreneurs this year.

Deputy Minister Datuk Mukhriz Mahathir said the development of youth in business is an important agenda for the government, especially in strategic fields.

He said last year, BPU provided training and courses to 30,094 young and aspiring entrepreneurs while in 2010, a total of 61,809 people took part in the various programmes.

He said a survey done in developed economies showed that the success of the respective economies depends on the creative and innovative ideas of the young people.


"That is why Malaysia highly needs young and competitive entrepreneurs in strategic fields such as ICT content and application, pharmaceutical and biotechnology," said Mukhriz, adding that these fields generate high returns and good growth potential locally and overseas.

Mukhriz spoke to reporters after launching the 1Malaysia Entrepreneurship Enhancement Think-In programme here yesterday, in conjunction with the Millions of Youth Gathering which began on Wednesday.

Some 250 youths comprising students, graduates and young entrepreneurs are taking part in the event, manning a total of 43 booths.

He added that events such as this usually receive good response by the aspiring entrepreneurs because they get to meet others who are already successful in their respective ventures.

"A proactive participation by our youth is becoming important as we transform Malaysia into a high-income nation in line with the Economic Transformation and the National Key Economic Area programmes," said Mukhriz. By Roziana Hamsawi

RM200m fund for creative industry

Source From (Business Times): http://www.btimes.com.my/Current_News/BTIMES/articles/20120525000125/Article/index_html

Published: on 25 May 2012

KUALA LUMPUR: The government will launch a RM200 million MyCreative Venture Capital fund soon to invest in and provide loans to targeted enterprises.
 
Second Finance Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Husni Hanadzlah said the fund would also be used to promote new ventures in the highgrowth creative industry.

“We have identified the creative industry as one with exciting growth potential,” he said at the official launch of the third Asia Business Angel Forum 2012 (ABAF 2012), here, yesterday.

Ahmad Husni also announced that another RM200 million has been set aside for skills development projects under the Strategic
Action for Youth programme.

“The idea is to provide funds to entrepreneurs with the best ideas. We are also making it cheaper and easier for enterprises to get loans and expand their business,” he said.

On another creative industry loan launched last year, Ahmad Husni said the response was overwhelming with RM164 million worth
of loans approved as of last month.

Among the activities covered under the loan scheme are the film-making, music, animation and content development.

The minister said Malaysia’s third industrial revolution
would be led by a new breed of entrepreneurs.

“They are innovative and creative and they will come out with
market-leading products. They are leaders – entreleaders – and are able to stand on their own two feet to compete on equal footing with the rest of the world.”

Ahmad Husni said the government would continue to play a big role in providing support for companies with strong potential to become leaders in their fields.

At the same time, he said Angel investment was gaining a lot of traction and recognition in recent years.

“What started out as an informal way of investing has now grown to be a real source of capital for young companies who are too small or lack the track record to obtain financing from
traditional banks.

“There is a lot that we can share from others in creating our own brand of Angel investment,” he said.

To further encourage growth of this industry and facilitate cross-border exchanges, Cradle Fund, an agency under the Finance Ministry, will establish the Malaysia Business Angel
Network by the end of the year.

Dana RM200j sokong industri kandungan kreatif

Source From (Berita Harian): http://www.bharian.com.my/bharian/articles/DanaRM200jsokongindustrikandungankreatif/Article

Published: on 25 May 2012

 

HUSNI mengatakan sesuatu kepada Pengerusi Forum 

ABAF 2012, Prof Wong Poh Kam sambil diperhatikan 

Nazrin pada majlis pembukaan program berkenaan di 

Kuala Lumpur, semalam.

KERAJAAN akan melancarkan dana pembiayaan baru berjumlah RM200 juta bagi menyokong industri kandungan kreatif tempatan.

Menteri Kewangan Kedua, Datuk Seri Ahmad Husni Hanadzlah berkata, dana yang akan dikenali sebagai Modal Teroka MyCreative itu akan berfungsi sebagai sumber pembiayaan untuk usahawan yang bergiat dalam industri kreatif. “Malaysia sedang bergerak ke arah memupuk budaya keusahawanan baru dengan meletakkan nilai yang tinggi kepada inovasi dan kepintaran.

“Kerajaan ingin melihat syarikat yang akan ditubuhkan pada masa depan didorong oleh usahawan yang memiliki idea baru yang inovatif. Justeru, pengenalan dana baru ini bakal membantu usahawan berkaitan mendapatkan pembiayaan untuk mengembangkan perniagaan mereka dalam industri ini,” katanya di Kuala Lumpur, semalam.

Beliau mengumumkan perkara itu dalam ucaptamanya pada Forum Asian Business Angel 2012 (ABAF 2012), anjuran Cradle Fund Sdn Bhd (CRADLE), iaitu agensi di bawah Kementerian Kewangan yang menyalurkan geran kepada usahawan teknologi menerusi Program Pelaburan Cradle.

Husni berkata, selain dana industri kreatif, kerajaan memperuntuk RM200 juta lagi bagi melaksana projek berkaitan pembangunan kemahiran di bawah Program Tindakan bagi Belia (SAY 1Malaysia).

Sementara itu, Husni berkata, skim Pinjaman Industri Kreatif yang dilancarkan tahun lalu mendapat sambutan menggalakkan apabila pinjaman bernilai RM164 juta diluluskan sehingga April lalu.

“Maklum balasnya sangat baik dengan pinjaman bernilai RM164 juta telah diluluskan sehingga April,” katanya sambil menambah kira-kira RM200 juta telah diperuntukkan bagi pembuatan filem, muzik, animasi, pembangunan kandungan dan aktiviti lain yang berkaitan di bawah industri kreatif.

Ketua Eksekutif CRADLE, Nazrin Hassan dalam sidang medianya selepas perasmian ABAF 2012 itu pula berkata, insentif cukai bagi menggalakkan pertumbuhan modal teroka baru yang berasaskan model United Kingdom perlu diperkenalkan di Malaysia bagi menggalakkan lebih ramai rakyat di negara ini melabur dalam perniagaan baru berasaskan teknologi tinggi.

Persepsi buruk sukarkan wanita berniaga

Source From (Utusan Malaysia): http://www.utusan.com.my/utusan/info.asp?y=2012&dt=0525&pub=Utusan_Malaysia&sec=Ekonomi&pg=ek_04.htm

Published: on 25 May 2012

KUALA LUMPUR 24 Mei - Persepsi terhadap kemampuan wanita berniaga menjadi antara punca utama mengapa usahawan golongan tersebut sukar berkembang di negara ini.

Ketua Pegawai Eksekutif SME Corporation Malaysia Bhd. (SME Corp), Datuk Hafsah Hashim berkata, hal itu menyebabkan usahawan wanita sukar mendapatkan rakan niaga dan paling menyedihkan kesukaran memperoleh dana kewangan daripada pihak bank.

“Sumber kewangan adalah kunci penting khususnya bagi memperkembangkan perniagaan. Persepsi adalah sesuatu perkara yang sukar diatasi.

“Justeru, usahawan wanita perlu sentiasa meningkatkan ilmu perniagaan termasuk mencari pelbagai alternatif termasuk mencari rakan niaga, pembekal yang baik serta kaedah pemasaran yang berkesan di dalam dan ke luar negara," katanya.

Beliau berkata demikian kepada pemberita selepas forum keusahawan wanita yang dianjurkan oleh SME Corp bersama Majlis Penasihat Perniagaan Kerjasama Ekonomi Asia Pasifik (ABAC) di sini hari ini.
Turut hadir Panel Keusahawanan Wanita SME Corp., Mariam Sulaiman dan Pengarah Institusi NAM bagi Memperkasa Wanita (NIEW), Tan Sri Rafiah Salim.

Jelas Hafsah, diharapkan forum yang dianjurkan oleh organisasinya itu dapat membantu golongan wanita mewujudkan rangkaian perniagaan khususnya bersama rakan niaga di kalangan negara-negara Asia Pasifik.

Dalam forum itu, tiga usahawan wanita dari New Zealand, Brunei dan China yang mengetuai organisasi masing-masing menyampaikan pembentangan bagaimana cabaran serta peluang dihadapi syarikatnya di negara masing-masing.

Persidangan PKS jangka 1,000 peserta

Source From (Sinar Online): http://www.sinarharian.com.my/bisnes/persidangan-pks-jangka-1-000-peserta-1.50501

Published: on 21 May 2012
Wartawan Sinar Harian

Persidangan perniagaan Perusahaan Kecil dan Sederhana (PKS) 2012 dijangka disertai lebih 1,000 penyertaan daripada komuniti perniagaan, bakal usahawan dan veteran, dalam persidangan dua hari bermula semalam.

Persidangan dianjurkan Maxis Berhad bersama akhbar pertama PKS, Malaysia SME (MSME) dan Alliance Bank Today bagi memberi sokongan berterusan dan komitmen dalam membangunkan PKS tempatan.

Bertemakan memperkasakan perniagaan, persidangan itu akan mempamerkan perniagaan komersial, teknologi terkini, sokongan kerajaan dan amalan terbaik perniagaan.

Ketua perusahaan, Pernia dan Kerajaan Maxis, Fitri Abdullah, berkata, persidangan itu adalah penting bagi memberi tumpuan dan cipta ekosistem baru kepada PKS untuk terus berkembang dalam negara.

"Ia menawarkan platform untuk cari peluang membangun dalam merevolusikan operasi, sekaligus mengukuhkan peranan di dalam persekitaran

SME Corp - Unjur eksport PKS 25 peratus

Source From (Harian Metro): http://www.hmetro.com.my/myMetro/articles/UnjureksportPKS25peratus/Article/index_html

Published: on 21 May 2012

SME Corporation Malaysia (SME Corp) percaya lebih banyak perusahaan kecil dan sederhana (PKS) di negara ini akan mengembangkan perniagaan mereka, sekali gus mengeksport produk ke peringkat global dengan jangkaan peningkatan sumbangan 25 peratus menjelang 2020 berbanding 19 peratus sekarang.

Ketua Pegawai Eksekutifnya, Datuk Habsah Hashim berkata, PKS Malaysia juga sudah menunjukkan perubahan yang ketara apabila tidak lagi menggunakan kaedah pemasaran yang lama, tetapi lebih inovatif.

Katanya, sejajar dengan itu SME Corp yakin sektor PKS akan turut meningkatkan sumbangan kepada keluaran dalam negara kasar (KDNK) daripada 32 peratus yang dicatatkan pada masa ini.

“Banyak yang dilakukan oleh kerajaan dalam membantu membangunkan sektor PKS di negara ini kerana sektor ini dilihat mampu menyumbang 41 peratus kepada KDNK dalam tempoh lapan tahun lagi, malah produk PKS juga sudah melalui revolusi yang bukan saja berkualiti, tetapi memenuhi standard antarabangsa.

“Bagaimanapun, untuk memastikan PKS terus menyumbang kepada pertumbuhan ekonomi negara, PKS memerlukan pendekatan perniagaan yang berbeza di mana mereka perlu inovatif perniagaan luar biasa,” katanya pada ucaptama sempena pelancaran Persidangan Perniagaan PKS 2012 di Subang Jaya, semalam.

Menurutnya, sektor PKS turut menyumbang kepada peluang pekerjaan di mana pada masa ini sumbangan pekerjaan bagi sektor itu adalah 59 peratus dan pihaknya, menyasarkan ia juga akan meningkat kepada 62 peratus menjelang pada 2020.

SMEs new credit source

Source From (The Star Online): http://biz.thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2012/5/21/business/11328025&sec=business

Published: on 21 May 2012

Business lending on the rise with roll-out of ETP jobs
PETALING JAYA: With consumer loans under pressure from the new lending guidelines, banks are tapping a new source of credit growth in lending to small and medium enterprises (SMEs).

Business banking is the next trend to watch as banks get prepared to finance the smaller jobs under the Economic Transformation Programme (ETP) and contract financing by SMEs.

“Consumer loans will still be the biggest contributor to income,” said Affin Bank chief corporate strategist Nazlee Khalifah. “But SME lending will be more prominent in almost all banks' portfolio at least for the next three to five years under ETP jobs and contract financing.”

“Affin is looking at more SMEs to beef up our contract financing business,” Nazlee told StarBiz.

 

“Previously, we were focussing on corporate which is the safer side of lending. We were in a recovery stage then. But now that we are on more stable footing, we can be more aggressive and take a bit more risk.”
The margins in business banking are slightly higher than in corporate banking and help to counter the fall in consumer margins.

The jobs involved are mainly small to mid-sized of around RM10mil to RM20mil each. The source of payment is secured and usually prompt upon completion of the job, as specified. These companies are mainly assessed based on their capability to perform the jobs, and are likely to be already known to the banks.

“The consumer loans market has become crowded,” said Pong Teng Siew, head of research at Interpac Securities. “The property market may experience a peak, after which it may slow down or flatten off.”
Business loans are more capital intensive - the capital allocated to support such lending is usually higher than for consumer loans. They are also more difficult to tap than consumer loans.

 

OCBC Bank sees the way forward not just in the building up its business banking business - the bank is said to be beefing up its contract financing unit - but in drawing up a diversified portfolio. “Banks should aim to build diversified portfolios as the revenue prospects and risk profiles of different loan/business segments can counter-balance one another,” said OCBC Bank Malaysia country chief risk officer Choo Yee Kwan.

As an example, corporate lending and project financing are largely cash flow-based whilst lending to the small and medium-sized businesses are mainly on secured basis.

Within consumer lending, residential mortgage financing is a secured portfolio whilst personal financing and cards are largely extended on an unsecured basis.

To complement corporate lending, project/contract financing, SME and consumer lending, banks will add on growing opportunities in treasury business, investment banking, wealth management plus other structured products for both individuals and businesses.

It will bring additional opportunities if banks are able to distribute bancassurance/ unit trust products and offer Islamic financing products and services.

Banks that have regional networks would be able to provide their customers with cross-border support, particularly in foreign locations where the bank has subsidiaries, branches or offices on the ground.

Choo: ‘A diversification approach to loan exposures/ revenue opportunities avoids portfolio concentration risks.’

 

“A diversification approach to loan exposures/revenue opportunities avoids portfolio concentration risks,” Choo said.

Within consumer banking, there could be some diversification between residential mortgage lending (on secured basis but there has been spread compression in the industry) and personal loans which are typically unsecured but the returns currently appear to be better.

However, growth may not be a priority anymore as we could be in the stage of the credit cycle which involves margin preservation and monitoring of asset quality, said an analyst from a foreign research house.

Other areas of credit growth involve ways to improve non-interest income which are basically non-capital intensive revenue opportunities. “Foreign exchange is an obvious area for hedging opportunities,” the analyst said.

Firma Malaysia perlu rebut peluang jadi pengedar MAKRO

Source From (Berita Harian): http://www.bharian.com.my/bharian/articles/FirmaMalaysiaperlurebutpeluangjadipengedarMAKRO/Article

Published: on 21 May 2012

MAKRO, kelab gudang Belanda dengan rangkaian cawangan di Brazil dan di Amerika Selatan, kini aktif mencari pembekal alternatif baru.

Perbadanan Pembangunan Perdagangan Luar Malaysia (MATRADE) dalam kenyataannya berkata, rangkaian global itu sedang mengenal pasti pengedar yang boleh dipercayai, yang dapat membantu dan memperkenal barangan import baru ke pasaran berkenaan. Ini termasuk barangan plastik seperti bekas makanan, kotak simpanan, produk kayu seperti penyangkut baju, barangan kaca, porselin dan logam serta utiliti plastik serta tikar getah.

India dan China adalah pembekal terbesar barangan terbabit pada masa ini.

MATRADE berkata, syarikat Malaysia wajar mengkaji peluang untuk meneroka pasaran berkenaan yang mempunyai penduduk lebih daripada 200 juta orang.

Kerajaan Brazil baru-baru ini mengumumkan pakej rangsangan berjumlah AS$33 bilion bagi menyokong sektor industrinya menerusi potongan cukai dan kadar faedah rendah.

“Ini bertujuan membantu bank komersial meluaskan sokongan kewangan mereka pada kadar faedah rendah, dan seterusnya memberi manfaat kepada usahawan kecil dan sederhana (PKS) menerusi peningkatan daya saing,” kata MATRADE,

Imbuhan secara meluas itu termasuk pemansuhan cukai gaji sebanyak 20 peratus, kadar cukai yang rendah untuk industri tekstil, peralatan auto, barangan modal, plastik, peralatan elektrik, kenderaan komersial, syarikat industri perkapa-lan dan penerbangan, hotel dan sektor cip komputer.

“Cukai pendapatan kasar satu peratus untuk industri dan dua peratus untuk sektor perkhidmatan pula menggantikan regim percukaian sebelumnya.

“Pengeksport dan pelabur Malaysia digalakkan memahami bagaimana struktur percukaian baru ini akan memberi impak ke atas aktiviti perniagaan mereka,” kata MATRADE.

SMIDEX 2012 expected to record 20pc rise in sales

Source From (Business Times): http://www.btimes.com.my/Current_News/BTIMES/articles/jrsmms/Article/

Published: on 20 May 2012
By June Ramlee

KUALA LUMPUR: SME Corp Malaysia expects the SME Innovation Showcase 2012 (SMIDEX 2012) to record a 20 per cent increase in negotiated sales this year from RM194.7 million last year.

Chief executive officer Datuk Hafsah Hashim said the three-day exhibition to be held at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre from June 20 to 22, will see a higher number of participation from international exhibitors.

"In terms of business matching value, we hope to reach RM220 million this year, with the increased presence of international exhibitors," she told reporters after the soft launch of SMIDEX 2012 yesterday.

Also present at the event was SME Corp chairman Datuk Mohamed Al Amin Abdul Majid.

Hafsah said in conjunction with the exhibition, SME Corp will organise the Asean-India SME Conference from June 21 to June 22 to provide a platform for local small and medium enterprises to leverage on the Asean-India free trade agreement (FTA). The FTA came into force on January 1 2010.

She said SME Corp will also introduce the SME Week for the first time during the SMIDEX 2012 to create better visibility on the country's SME products and services.

Themed "SMEs Shaping the Future", this year's SMIDEX is expected to attract more than 200 foreign and local exhibitors.

Over 10,000 participants from the business and public sectors are expected to attend the event, which will highlight the latest lifestyle products from Malaysia and around the region.

Potensi perniagaan lebih luas

Source From (Utusan Malaysia): http://www.utusan.com.my/utusan/info.asp?y=2012&dt=0519&pub=Utusan_Malaysia&sec=Ekonomi&pg=ek_01.htm

Published: on 20 May 2012

HAFSAH Hashim bersama Mohamed Al Amin Abdul 

Majid menunjukkan reka letak pameran SMIDEX 2012 

pada majlis prapelancaran pameran itu di Kuala Lumpur, semalam.

KUALA LUMPUR 18 Mei - SME Corporation Malaysia Bhd. (SME Corp) menyasarkan peningkatan sebanyak 20 peratus bagi nilai potensi perniagaan sempena pameran inovasi perusahaan kecil dan sederhana (PKS) (SMIDEX 2012) berbanding RM194 juta yang telah dicapai tahun lalu.

Ketua Pegawai Eksekutifnya, Datuk Hafsah Hashim berkata, peningkatan itu dijangka berlaku hasil peningkatan penyertaan peserta pameran antarabangsa.

Katanya, pada tahun ini, SME Corp turut menjemput negara-negara lain selain ASEAN untuk menyertai SMIDEX 2012 seperti India, Korea, Syria dan Jepun.

"Jika tahun lalu kami membawa masuk penyertaan negara-negara ASEAN dan China, pada tahun ini kami menjemput negara-negara ASEAN dan lain-lain.

"SMIDEX 2012 dijangka melibatkan penyertaan sebanyak 350 peserta kesemuanya," katanya dalam majlis prapelancaran SMIDEX 2012 di sini hari ini.

Turut hadir Pengerusi SME Corp., Datuk Ir. Mohamed Al Amin Abdul Majid.
Hafsah berkata, SMIDEX 2012 dijadualkan berlangsung selama tiga hari bermula 20 Jun ini.

Selain syarikat PKS, syarikat-syarikat lain yang turut dijemput menyertai pameran itu adalah Proton Holdings Bhd., Perusahaan Otomobil Kedua Sdn. Bhd., Celcom (M) Bhd., Telekom Malaysia Bhd., Malaysian Industrial Development Finance Bhd. dan RHB Bank Bhd..

Kemuncak SMIDEX 2012 adalah Anugerah Inovasi PKS 2012 yang merupakan majlis pengiktirafan terhadap usaha inovasi syarikat PKS tempatan.

PKS yang paling inovatif dari enam kategori yang dipertandingkan berpeluang memenangi hadiah berupa wang tunai sebanyak RM1 juta. Majlis anugerah itu dijangka dihadiri Perdana Menteri, Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak.

Selain majlis anugerah, SME Corp turut mengadakan Persidangan PKS ASEAN-India 2012 yang mana ia menjadi platform terbaik bagi para peserta memahami peluang dan cabaran pasaran di India.

Maklumat lanjut mengenai SMIDEX 2012 boleh didapati menerusi laman web www.smidex.my atau di laman sosial Facebook iaitu www.facebook.com/smidex.

85 KR1M di seluruh negara pada akhir 2012

Source From (Utusan Malaysia): http://www.utusan.com.my/utusan/info.asp?y=2012&dt=0520&pub=Utusan_Malaysia&sec=Ekonomi&pg=ek_03.htm

Published: on 20 May 2012

KANGAR 19 Mei - Sebanyak 85 buah Kedai Rakyat 1Malaysia (KR1M) dijangka dibuka di seluruh negara sehingga akhir tahun ini, berikutan sambutan memberangsangkan daripada pengguna terhadap kedai itu yang menawarkan harga barangan pada kadar rendah.

Pengarah Urusan Mydin Mohamed Holdings Berhad (MYDIN), Datuk Dr. Ameer Ali Mydin berkata, setakat ini sebanyak 36 buah cawangan KR1M telah beroperasi di seluruh negara dan terbaru pembukaan kedai berkenaan di Bintong dekat sini.

"Ini termasuk pembukaan cawangan KR1M di Kuching, Sarawak dan Kota Kinabalu, Sabah pada Julai ini," katanya pada sidang akhbar selepas perasmian kedai berkenaan oleh Menteri Besar, Datuk Seri Dr. Md. Isa Sabu di Bangunan Serbaguna, Mukim Wang, Bintong di sini hari ini.

KR1M diilhamkan oleh Perdana Menteri, Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak untuk membantu rakyat membeli barangan pada harga murah dengan MYDIN diberi amanah menjalankan operasi kedai berkenaan.

Menurut Ameer, pihaknya menyasarkan setiap daerah atau kawasan parlimen di setiap negeri mempunyai sekurang-kurangnya sebuah kedai seumpama itu.

350 PKS sertai Smidex 2012

Source From (Sinar Online): http://www.sinarharian.com.my/bisnes/350-pks-sertai-smidex-2012-1.49331

Published: on 20 May 2012
CONNIE S MONICAL

Perbadanan Peru­­sahaan Kecil dan Sederhana (SME Corp Malaysia) menyasarkan peningkatan­ jualan 20 peratus berbanding RM194.7 juta jumlah tahun lalu.

Pengerusinya, Datuk Ir Mohamed Al Amin Abdul Majid berkata, jumlah penjanaan itu dikumpul menerusi Pameran Perusahaan Kecil dan Sederhana (PKS) terbesar (Smidex 2012) ke-15 yang berlangsung 20 hingga 22 Jun ini.

“Pameran tahun ini akan disertai lebih 350 tapak pameran, 200 syarikat tempatan seperti Proton Holdings Bhd, Perusahaan Otomobil Kedua Sdn Bhd (Perodua), Celcom (M) Bhd, Telekom Malaysia Bhd, Malaysian Industrial Development Finance Bhd dan RHB Bhd.

“Selebihnya syarikat luar negara seperti India, Korea, Thailand, Syria, Jepun, Brunei dan Indonesia,” katanya selepas pra pelancaran Smidex 2012, di Kuala Lumpur, semalam.

Menurutnya, tahun ini, SME Corp menyasarkan 10,000 pengunjung bakal membanjiri pameran tersebut kerana tumpuan produk lebih kepada gaya hidup terkini selaras hasrat untuk mengetengahkan kemampuan syarikat tempatan ke seluruh dunia dalam menghasilkan produk terbaik.

SME Corp turut mengadakan Anugerah Inovasi PKS 2012 bagi memberi pengiktirafan terhadap usaha inovasi syarikat tempatan di dalam enam kategori dan berpeluang untuk memenangi wang tunai RM1 juta.

Turut berlangsung sepanjang Smidex 2012, Persidangan PKS Asean-India 2012 yang menjadi platform terbaik bagi peserta memahami peluang dan cabaran pasaran India.