KUALA LUMPUR: The Economic Transformation Programme (ETP) benefits small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and not just big companies, said SME Corp chief executive Datuk Hafsah Hashim.

"For example, in the last package announced, nine out of 15 initiatives have a direct positive impact on existing SMEs, namely in the education, healthcare, distributive trade, agriculture and oil and gas services sub-sectors," she told a news conference after officiating at the SME Solutions Expo 2011 yesterday.

In the sixth round of ETP progress update on June 13, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak announced 15 initiatives within seven National Key Economic Areas. The initiatives accounted for about RM63.4 billion in investment.

Hafsah said SMEs can go to One Referral Centre located at SME Corp to know more about these projects.

She also said that last Saturday, the first batch of SME chief executive officers (CEOs) have started their weekend classes at Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM) under SME Corp's SME@University programme.

Within three years, 500 SME owners and CEOs are expected to undergo formal training at local universities under the programme.

During one mini semester (three months), the CEOs will be trained on entrepreneurship, leadership, marketing, finance as well as latest techniques in business and management.

Hafsah said the SME@University programme is based on the model of SME University of Japan. Pembangunan Sumber Manusia Bhd has allocated RM700,000 funding for the programme.