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SMI Association To Hold National SME Economic Transformation Conference [ 14-09-2010 ]
KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 7 (Bernama) -- The SMI Association of Malaysia,
recognising the importance of the contributions by the small and medium
enterprises (SMEs) to the economy, will organise the National SME
Economic Transformation Conference 2010 in Sept 30 to help SMEs
transform the way they do business.
This year's theme is "Transforming SMEs, Moving Up the Value Chain".
National president of SMI Association, Chua Tiam Wee, said the
conference would be held at Putra World Trade Centre in conjunction with
the SMI 1-Stop Solution Exhibition 2010 (SMIOSS 2010) from Sept 30 to
Oct 2.
"Through this transformation process, we hope our SMEs will be able to
increase their contributions to the gross domestic product to 50-60 per
cent in 2020 as in the developed nations.
"With SMEs been targeted by the government to be the growth drivers of
the private domestic investment with a targeted 12.8 per cent annual
growth, improving the access and availability of financing for SMEs'
growth is of great importance," he said at a media launch on the two-day
conference here Tuesday.
Chua said the association would also organise the National SME
Conference 2010 in Oct 1 to provide the latest information on the new
government and banking institutions' funding schemes such as Working
Capital Guarantee Scheme, new soft loans and venture capital funds.
He said the conference would also help SMEs have better insights and
tips on how to equip themselves to successfully secure their financing
needs.
The organising committee expects to to attract at least 500
participants in each of the two-day conferences while for the SMIOSS
exhibition, it targets 280 exhibitors with at least 30 per cent of them
from overseas and 15,000 trade visitors.
Earlier, Deputy Minister of Finance, Senator Datuk Donald Lim Siang
Chai, who opened the media launch, said the government has always
facilitated a pro-business environment and export-led economy as the
main drivers of growth.
He said the government, via Bank Negara Malaysia and SME Corp, has
embarked on various SME development programmes and schemes that
encompass capacity building, financial assistance, market development
initiatives and facilitation of export and brand development.
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