1,500 SMEs to be listed on AliBaba.Com platform

KUALA TERENGGANU: A total of 1,500 small and medium enterprises (SMEs) will be listed on the AliBaba.com e-commerce platform by year-end, said International Trade and Industry Minister Datuk Seri Mustapa Mohamed.
He said the selection of the eligible SMEs, with a diverse product range, would be carried out throughout the country from Oct 1.
The selection process will be conducted by SME Corporation Malaysia (SME Corp), the Malaysia Digital Economy Corporation and the Malaysia External Trade Development Corporation, he told reporters after launching the national-level SME Week 2017 from May 4 until May 26 here, today.
He said the AliBaba.com listing would use the Digital Free Trade Zone (DFTZ) as its marketing platform.
"We are confident that Alibaba's investment will be a catalyst to boost the performance of the SMEs in order to penetrate foreign markets," he said.
Present were Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Ahmad Razif Abdul Rahman, SME Corp Malaysia Chairman Tan Sri Ir Dr Mohamed Al Amin Abdul Majid and SME Corp Malaysia Chief Executive Datuk Dr Hafsah Hashim.
Meanwhile, Mustapa said the government was in the final stages of drafting a bill to empower SMEs which was expected to be tabled in Parliament in the coming session.
The bill seeks to develop SMEs more systematically, particularly in data collection, he said, adding that, "Data collection is important. We're giving emphasis on the effort through the Department of Statistics in order to get enough data," he said.
At the event, Mustapa launched the SME Mobile Hub that serves as a one-stop centre to assist the public in dealing with SME Corp.
Themed "Little by Little, Aim for the Sky", the annual SME Week is organised by SME Corp since 2012 with the aim of attracting entrepreneurs and the public to participate in and benefit from the support services provided by various agencies. — Bernama