KUALA LUMPUR: Given the significant presence of small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in the economy, transforming productivity and competitiveness performance is necessary for the remarkable improvement in national productivity.
Malaysia Productivity Corporation (MPC) director-general Datuk Abdul Latif Abu Seman said the government would prioritise incorporating advanced technologies among SMEs under the 12th Malaysia Plan, serving as a powerful game-changer for the economy and enabling SMEs to transform, compete and penetrate the global market.
"SMEs will be equipped with the skills to digitise their business process with automation, big data and AI, in line with the National Fourth Industrial Revolution Policy and the Malaysia Digital Economy Blueprint," he said.
He was speaking during the opening address during a webinar organised by SEMI Southeast Asia and Malaysia Semiconductor Industry Association (MSIA).
The webinar aims to educate local SMEs on how to boost their competitiveness on the global stage and future-proof their businesses.
SEMI Southeast Asia president Linda Tan said Malaysia is a key player in the global semiconductor trade, with approximately 7.0 per cent of the total international semiconductor trade flowing through Malaysia.
She said semiconductor is a major part of the global electronics supply chain, with electrical and electronics (E&E) exports at 39 per cent of Malaysia'sMalaysia's total export in 2020.
"SMEs represent a key pillar in this space, and their growth is imperative to the nation's success and the broader Southeast Asia region", Tan said.
"SEMI Southeast Asia recognises the importance of SMEs in the E&E industry and is committed to supporting these businesses to ensure that the region's semiconductor ecosystem remains strong and resilient," she said.
Meanwhile, MSIA president Datuk Seri Wong Siew Hai said the association had been actively navigating through the past two years while taking extraordinary steps to safeguard SMEs in the E&E industry.
"This webinar is an example of the many initiatives we are undertaking to support the industry, more so given the importance of the interconnectivity of our ecosystem.
"It educated participants on how to scale up internationally and remain competitive globally," he said.
The webinar, the inaugural collaboration of SEMI Southeast Asia and MSIA, will continue at the upcoming SEMICON Southeast Asia 2022, the premier gathering of the semiconductor and microelectronics industry.
The exhibition and conferences will be held from June 21 to June 23 at the Setia SPICE Convention Centre & Arena in Penang, will gather industry experts for the latest developments, innovations, and trends across the semiconductor supply chain.