INFORMATION technology is no longer an option but a necessity for local small and medium businesses (SMEs) and ICT companies.
Penang Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Committee chairman Lau Chiek Tuan said information technology was now a necessary tool for SMEs to achieve growth and global competitiveness.
Speaking at the launching of a road show by MCA ICT Resource Centre (MIRC), Lau encouraged those in the related field to take part in the event.
The event will be held in Penang on Nov 24 and Johor Baru on Dec 3. Admission is free.
“In this challenging times, we need some good strategic business knowledge and you can find them in this road show,” he said.
Lau, who is the organising chairman, said Deputy Science, Technology and Innovations Minister Datuk Kong Cho Ha would open the event in Penang on Nov 24 at Sunway Hotel in Seberang Jaya.
Speakers from Oracle, SME Bank, Kompakar, Microsoft and computer experts will enlighten participants on strategies to enhance growth, reduce cost, increase efficiency and staying competitive.
MIRC was set by MCA to assist SMEs in transforming their business towards using ICT and to facilitate the growth of technopreneurs in the country.
For details, call Goh at 012-4082084 or MIRC KL at 03-21611618 or email to elearning@myjaring.net.
Lau (left) discussing a matter with Penang SMI Association president Ooi Chee Hock and MIRC chief executive officer Andrew Wong (right) during the launching of the road show.
MIRC TO ORGANISE TWO-CITY MIRC SME ICT ROADSHOW
MIRC today announces its two-city road show - Penang and Johor Bahru as part of its outreach program to meet the needs of the SMEs and ICT companies in the Northern and Southern states.
The MIRC SME ICT Roadshow titled “Strategic Business for SMBs and ISV Community Day” will be held on November 24, 2005 at the Sunway Hotel, Seberang Jaya. MIRC will bring in speakers from Oracle, SME Bank, Kompakar, Computer Associates and Microsoft to enlighten SMEs and ICT companies in the Northern States on strategies to enhance growth, reduce cost, increase efficiency and staying competitive.
Speaking at a Press Conference in Penang, Andrew Wong, MIRC Chief Executive Officer, says, “It is time MIRC move its activities out of the Klang Valley and reach out to SMEs and ICT companies in the Northern States. We have received numerous calls for MIRC to organize events and activities to assist the SMEs and ICT companies in the Northern States and now, we are here to stay!” MIRC CEO also announced the appointment of the MIRC honorary representative for the Northern Region.
“Penang SMEs today are faced with difficult challenges - intense competition, rising cost, relocation of multinational companies, reduced profit margin, shortening product lifecycle, and decreasing operational competitiveness. Information technology is no longer an option for companies who want to increase their efficiency, enhance growth, reduce cost, increase revenue and create more business opportunities”, said YB Lau Chiek Tuan, Organising Chairman of the MIRC SME ICT Roadshow and Penang State Committee Chairman for Domestic Trade & Consumer Affairs. “Penang SMEs cannot run away from the fact that Information Technology is now a necessary tool to achieve growth and global competitiveness”, he added. “Also we are also happy to have the full support of the SMI Association of Penang represented by its President, Dr Ooi Chee Hock.”
Stressing that the one-day seminar is free, YB Lau urges all the SMEs in the Northern States to make use of this opportunity to gain more knowledge on innovation and technology; and apply them to their businesses. More than 300 people are expected for this event which will officiated by YB Dato' Kong Cho Ha, Deputy Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation and National MCA ICT Bureau Chairman.
“We have two interesting tracks catering to the needs of SME and ICT companies, Strategic Business for SMEs and ISV Community Day and these tracks presents an opportunity for SMEs in Penang, Kedah and Perlis to have a global perspective of the nature of competition they are facing, ways to manage competition and minimize risks, international business best practices and standards, and the role of Information Technology in facilitating these business strategies”, said YB Lau.
“ICT companies will benefit from the ISV Community Day in terms of knowledge and strategies they will gain from the technical talks such as best practice in software development, business partnership and the latest technologies in software development”, he added.
Commenting on CA's participation in MIRC's SME ICT Roadshow, Queenie Wong, Managing Director of Computer Associates Malaysia said, “We are pleased to partner with MIRC yet again in this initiative to encourage more SMEs to integrate technology and enter the ICT mainstream.
“SMEs, like any large enterprise, need to secure their data, optimize the efficiency of their IT operations, and minimize the total cost of PC ownership. This was why we recently introduced the CA Business Management Suite - SME Savings Plan which offers SMEs world class solutions specially tailored to meet their needs and budgets. We have now taken our initiatives one step further. We will be making available the CA Protection Suites release 2, which will address SMEs' need for streamlined and easy-to-implement solutions for the protection of data and IT systems, whilst minimising on IT management costs,” Ms Queenie Wong said.
Among the highlights of the day will be a presentation from the newly established SME Bank and the SME Bank clinic, which will be held after the afternoon tracks.
Admission to the MIRC SME ICT Roadshow is free.
For more information on the MIRC SME ICT Roadshow, please contact Mr John Goh 012-408 2084, Penang MCA (604) 226 7827 / 226 7830 and MIRC KL (603) 2161 1618.
Special State SME Fund Can Help Boost Penang's Economy
KUALA LUMPUR, May 22 (Bernama) -- Small and medium scale enterprises (SMEs) in Penang could be do more to boost Penang's economy if the state government were to set up a fund to help them, says Dr Ooi Chee Hock, president of the SMI Association of Penang.
Such a fund, he said, could be used to help them finance the purchase and upgrading of equipment to stay competitive as well as in their overseas promotions and marketing.
The money could also go towards setting up a Training and R&D Centre specially geared for SMEs to focus on product specialisation and differentiation as the SME sector depended a lot of market niches, Dr Ooi said in an interview.
SMEs have played an important role in Penang's economy since the 1970s when multinationals (MNCs) like Intel and AMD established their operations in the state. SMEs had been servicing MNCs in various capacities under the Global Supplier Programme and Services Suppliers Programme.
Dr Ooi said the Penang state government could play a catalytic role in strengthening SMEs by establishing a state-level SME committee to co-ordinate SME activities and look at ways to further sharpen their competitiveness.
The committee, he said, should include successful SME operators and professionals appointed by chambers of commerce and trade associations.
"It is of utmost importance that the SME operators in Penang be well guided because a lot of them are servicing multinationals where quality and professionalism take priority," he added, adding that information on official trade missions should be made known to them so that they could also take part and promote their products and services.
Dr Ooi said helping SMEs develop an entrepreneurial marketing strategy would provide them with a global response mechanism when facing constant challenges from globalisation.
In this regard, he said "selected SME clustering" would be an excellent method to provide them with strong competitive base and help them overcome problems usually associated with lack of resources and experience.
Asked whether there was a need for a special designated area for SMEs in Penang, he said there was no such need as "SMEs operate where they feel best and most be as close possible to their customers."
Dr Ooi, who is also the Penang MCA SME Bureau chief, said members of the SMI Association of Penang, are drawn not only from the manufacturing sector but also other sectors like transport services, communications, trading, ICT, financial services and other supporting industries.
On the SMI Association of Malaysia roadshow for the SMB (Small Medium Businesses) Recognition Award 2006 in Penang over the weekend, he said the response was encouraging as more than 160 people, many of them entrepreneurs, turned up. Also present were Taizoon H. Tyebkhan, president of the joint-chambers of commerce in Penang and representatives from Persatuan Pedagang Dan Pengusaha Melayu Malaysia (Perdasama, Penang Branch), Penang Hardware & Machinery Merchants Association, Penang Furniture Manufacturers & Dealers Association and SMIDEC's Northern Region Office.
The SMB Recognition Award 2006, to be held later this year, is to honour SMBs that had achieved excellence in their respective industries and had contributed to Malaysia's economic growth.
