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KEEPING AN EYE ON SME AWARDS

[ 25-07-2007 ]

The Star, Tuesday, July 17, 2007

KLANG: The Government is monitoring the activities of some organisations
handing out awards for quality to small and medium-sized entrepreneurs
(SMEs), said International Trade and Industry Ministry parliamentary
secretary Datin Paduka Dr Tan Yee Kew.

“We are checking for abuse by some of the awards organisers,” she said.
Certain quarters were not serious about the awards handed out and were
in it just for profit, she added.

“It is acceptable for organisers to collect participation fees, but
there are situations where the participants are asked to advertise or
subscribe to the organiser’s products,” she said after opening the Small
and Medium-Sized Industry Recognition Awards roadshow organised by the
SMI Association of Malaysia.

Dr Tan said the problem was “manageable” and the ministry had not
received any official complaint.

Giving awards to the SMEs could increase awareness and encourage
businesses to upgrade operations in the fast-moving competitive world,
she said, adding that awards were also a benchmark for the entrepreneurs
to identify the quality and weaknesses of their products.
There were many different awards organisers in the country and the
Government encouraged promotion and recognition of businesses which did
well, she said.

“We hope organisers will be sincere in their activities. It will give a
bad image of the country if a winner’s products are found to be inferior
by foreigners when the company tries to penetrate the international
market,” she said.

Source:
http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2007/7/17/nation/20070717171305&sec=nation