Smidec ready to take on role of central coordinator

[ 27-09-2007 ]

Smidec ready to take on role of central coordinator

(Friday September 21, 2007)

By Kamarul Yunus

The Small and Medium Industries Development Corp (Smidec) is prepared  to take up the role of being the SME (small and medium enterprise) central coordinating agency.

Its chief executive officer Datuk Hafsah Hashim said Smidec is honoured with the appointment announced last week, and views it as recognition of its work in developing Malaysia's SMEs.

With the expanded role, she said Smidec will soon increase its staff strength from current 169 employed nationwide.

“Other agencies related to the development of SMEs will also looking at Smidec as the main referential agency. It will be a challenging  task for us. We have to be on our toes to ensure that the government’s expectations are met.” She told Business Times.

Last Thursday, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi announced that Smidec will serve as the SME Central Coordinating Agency, which was formed to improve the sector’s competitiveness and contribution to the national economy.

Speaking after chairing the 7th National SME Development Council meeting, the Prime Minister said the agency will also ensure that the support programs for SMEs are comprehensive and delivered in an effective manner.

“It is about providing efficient delivery system to 99.2 per cent of the country’s total business establishments. It will not be easy and  it is going to be a challenging task ahead,” Hafsah said.

She said Smidec has already started to adopt a more proactive and business friendly approach. An ongoing campaign sees all its staff wearing pin-up badges with the motto “May I Help You?”

“We are doing this to tell the SMEs not to be afraid to visit Smidec, to look for our assistance, be advisory services or just asking our officers to fill ups forms. We don’t want those (SMEs) to look at us  as an enforcement officer,” she said.

In terms of approvals for grants and loans, Hafsah said Smidec will always be there to try and help the SMEs.

“Our assistance does not stop when their applications are rejected. We will continue to help them,” she said.

Noting that access to financing is part of the pressing issues faced  by SMEs, Hafsah said Smidec had gone electronic to ensure that payment  to the SMEs would be made faster and efficiently.

“We launched the electronic payment system in March this year, and so far our clients are very happy with the service.

“In fact, banks and other government agencies want to learn from us to implement such electronic payment system so that we have a common language in dealing with the SMEs,” she said.

Established on May 2 1996, Smidec is an agency under the purview of  the Ministry of International Trade and Industry.

source:
http://www.btimes.com.my/Current_News/BT/Friday/Nation/20070920230807/Article/