Govt committed to helping digitalisation of SMEs

PETALING JAYA: The government is committed to assist SMEs to make that leap into Industry 4.0, since they face different set of challenges compared with the multinational corporations, said Second Minister of International Trade and Industry Datuk Seri Ong Ka Chuan.
This includes strengthening digitalisation among SMEs through e-commerce and adoption of innovative technology.
Other initiatives already embarked on leading up to the overall Industry 4.0 concept includes the National Strategic Roadmap on Internet of Things, the Digital Free Trade Zone and framing 2017 as the year of the Internet Economy for Malaysia.
The National Policy on Industry 4.0 is also being developed through engagements done by various quarters of the government. The policy framework is targeted to be completed by year end.
Ong said the role of the government is more of an enabler for Industry 4.0 transformation to be realised.
"The government's aim at this juncture is to ensure that its intervention is done holistically. Nonetheless, I am heartened to learn that there are many industry-led initiatives in some sectors," he said in his keynote address at the Federation of Malaysian Manufacturers (FMM) Industry 4.0 Conference here this morning.
He added that industry associations echo the sentiments of the government that digitalisation through Industry 4.0 should be bottom-up instead of top-down and industry associations need to take charge and advocate rapid adoption in the manufacturing and manufacturing-related services.