Embrace ICT, businesses and industries told

SMALL and medium enterprises (SMEs) in Sarawak should embrace information and communication technology (ICT) in order to grow faster and go global.

Chief Minister Tan Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud said businesses were no longer confined to national borders in today’s era of global markets and the Internet.

“The government believes that with the broad deployment of ICT in business and industries, we will be able to attain greater productivity, deliver better service and have a higher level of innovation, thus making Malaysia more competitive in the global market,” he said at the opening of an ICT seminar for SMEs in Kuching yesterday.

The text of his speech was read out by Environment and Public Health Minister Datuk Seri Wong Soon Koh.

Taib also said the state government was committed to the development of a diverse and competitive SME sector.

“We believe that SMEs are fundamental in the nation’s ability to achieve sustainable economic growth. We are fully aware and appreciative of the efforts of SMEs in playing a key role in entrepreneurial development in Sarawak and in providing employment opportunities for Sarawakians,” he said.

The one-day seminar was the 10th in a nationwide series organised by the National ICT Association of Malaysia (Pikom) to expose SMEs to ICT and e-commerce as tools for business growth.

It featured speakers from established ICT organisations such as REDtone Telecom- munications Sdn Bhd, IBM Malaysia, Malaysia Devt Ventures and SME Corporation Malaysia covering topics like technology trends and ICT financing for SMEs.

Participants also learnt about Internet security from Panda Security, using the Internet as a marketing tool and solutions from Google Inc and solutions offered by companies such as Maxis and my Domain Registry.

By Sharon Ling
Sources : The Star