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PETALING JAYA: Struggling small and medium enterprises (SMEs) should make full use of the technological transformation programme under Budget 2022 to modernise their business, said an economist.

Yeah Kim Leng of Sunway University Business School said the RM45 million allocation for the programme presented businesses with the perfect opportunity to move their processes online and allow them to become more cost-effective and expand their market.

“They can review their business model and explore new business opportunities. Those who are lagging behind can adapt to disruptions caused by the pandemic in areas such as their production line, supply chain or marketing,” he told FMT.

In tabling Budget 2022, finance minister Tengku Zafrul Aziz announced the transformation programme for SMEs and mid-level companies in the manufacturing and services sectors, in line with Industrial Revolution 4.0 (IR4) or Industry4wrd policy.

Yeah, an economics professor, said through the programme, SMEs could restrategise and adopt new business models or applications on integrated platforms that could differentiate them from their competitors and lower their costs.

“They could potentially do things better than their competitors,” he said.

Small and Medium Enterprises Association Malaysia (Samenta) secretary-general SH Yeoh said any funds or incentives to support SMEs to move towards IR4.0 were welcomed.

He urged the government to provide more details on the programme, adding that RM45 million may not be enough for all SMEs and companies should not wait for the government to embark on their IR 4.0 journey.

Source: https://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/nation/2021/12/06/make-full-use-of-tech-transformation-scheme-smes-urged/