OFFICIAL LAUNCHING and PRESS CONFERENCE of the "SMB BUSINESS CONNECTION" by SMI ASSOCIATION OF MALAYSIA
Malaysia is embarking upon a new phase of development towards realizing our aspiration of becoming a developed nation by 2020. This next 15-year phase will be guided by the National Mission and Industrial Master Plan 3 (IMP3), whereby the business and operating environment will become more challenging to small and medium businesses (SMB).
As the local national based non-governmental and non-profit organization in Malaysia that focuses on all SMBs development over the past 10 years, the SMI Association of Malaysia (SMIAM) has embarked on another leading initiative to pave ways for all SMBs to leap into the digital business arena by executing the "SMB Business Connection" (SBC).
In business world, connection plays an integral role. Personal influence and whom one knows somehow affect the likelihood of success rate in businesses. But is physical contact & interaction the only means for businesses to get connected & stay connected? SMIAM recognizes such business nature and thus shaped the SBC initiative, the platform for SMBs to make new contacts, develop business and access market both in a positive and friendly social atmosphere as well as virtually, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 52 weeks a year anytime anywhere without any geographical boundary and time limitation. The SBC initiative is also a proactive membership drive and networking platform.
SMIAM believes that SBC initiative will play a major role in helping SMBs face challenges in changing world business environment, coping with competition from emerging economies, taking advantage of technology advancements, riding on global business trends, nurturing innovative and resilient SMBs, enhancing market and financing access, building human capital, adopting best business practices as well as harnessing the potential of SMBs in the services sector.
SBC initiative is thus SMIAM's answer to the Malaysian Government's call to enhancing role of Industry Associations in facilitating market access for SMB, as stipulated in IMP3: Malaysia - towards global competitiveness. It is also an initiative to engage all 13 state branches and 7 local area Associations towards an aggressive membership drive to recruit 50,000 members for SBC initiative over the next 3 years, beginning now with the 3,000 indirect members plus 650 direct members of SMIAM. Every SMB will automatically benefit from this new initiative without extra fees, all they need to do is logon to our official website, www.smisme.com, and register - 3 simple steps are all it takes! SBC initiative aims to ultimately to build strategic alliances with reputable business providers in negotiating a special deal only for SBC members in terms of communication, trade services, traveling, accommodation and advisory services. As the initial roll out plan, three distinct but concurrent programs to be managed by the event manager, SMB Solutions Management Sdn Bhd and Tourism Publications Corporation Sdn Bhd, to benefit all SMBs under the SBC initiative are:
- eSMB Program
- SMB Export Seminar and Coaching Program
- Launching of SMI Business Directory 2008 (7th Edition)
eSMB Program
eSMB is a business portal to empower international & borderless trade services through www.smisme.com. eSMB aims to cultivate e-business culture among small and medium businesses and to enable small and medium businesses tap into the technology advanced marketing, networking & distribution channel without having to incur substantial initial investments and resources by offering all registered businesses a non-chargeable posting facility of their product and services onto our official website as an enhanced marketing platform and networking facilitation with our current registered members on top of the 13 Association branches throughout Malaysia on "Business Gallery" and build a business transaction network internationally.
The business portal also serves as a virtual networking platform internationally, especially with SMIAM's relentless effort to build borderless alliances with other Associations and chambers of commerce world wide by taking part and providing useful business know-how incorporating each country's trade information, trade facilities, industrial support, business environment and infrastructure to facilitate the "Marketplace" so that our members intended to invest in the relevant country would have a trusted reference source. We believe such contribution will help position each country's prominent Associations and Chamber of Commerce as the ready referee when our SMB community seeks information about each country on SMIAM's official website.
Following our initial attempt to invite global Associations and chamber of commerce, we've received feedback and encouragement from The Thai Chamber of Commerce and Korean Small Business Institute to support the SMIAM's initiative.
The eSMB further encourages interaction by creating a business forum on the business portal to hear directly and address all valid issues that are affecting the business community.
SMB Export Seminar and Coaching Program
We are well aware of the effect globalization is dawning upon the business community, but Malaysian SMBs are not reaping the opportunities fast enough. SMIAM believes it is thus extremely important to encourage and educate SMBs to plan their export drive in an aggressive manner while directing SMBs to leverage on Malaysia's world class infrastructure and facility while not to be left out on the globalization bandwagon. This program was thus designed to educate and designate an anchor brand and build multi-channel system, through physical and online distribution, to support and help Malaysian SMBs assess their business's existing marketing performance, providing them practical guidance on the essential factors required in the business to develop a sustainable export market as well as raising the number of Malaysia's growth engine and economic backbone to be export ready.
The program will be delivered in three phases, starting with nationwide mandarin seminar on 23rd June in KL, 26th June in Penang, 27th June in Ipoh, 29th June in Malacca and 30th June in Johor Bahru. The strategic partners of the seminar are EXIM Bank, DHL Express and Taiwan Development Institute. Any seminar participants that register through the eSMB business portal at www.smisme.com will enjoy a free export clinic coaching session for Phase II while the final phase continues in the form of trade mission, business matching as well as international forum aiming to bring Malaysian product overseas to create new market space for Malaysian SMBs.
Launching of SMI Business Directory 2008 (7th Edition)
Today also marks the launching day of our SMI Business Directory 2008, which will be the 7th edition. As an Official Business Directory of SMIAM, SMI Business Directory (SMIBD) is a full-colour comprehensive reference, focusing on SMBs and companies which deal with SMBs in Malaysia. Its excellent features include:
- Informative and useful articles covering SMBs' day-to-day operations.
- Classifications according to products and services, all in alphabetical order.
- Comprehensive profiles of over 2,000 SMBs, and Product and Service Providers.
- Useful contacts, for example, Government Agencies and Ministries, Chambers of Commerce, etc.
SMIBD is a rich source of knowledge and a handy reference on SMBs. The SMIBD serves as a useful source of information. Its advertisements allow comparative buying so that least-cost providers can be sourced. In a nutshell, this book will empower SMBs to climb greater heights in today's dynamic business environment. It is a must-have guide for corporations that want to do business with SMBs.
With an annual circulation of 40,000 copies, SMIBD is distributed on a complimentary basis through our strategic networks such as MATRADE, SMIDEC, MIDA, banks and finance / public listed / telecommunications companies, chambers of commerce, embassies, government departments and agencies. Targeted readers of the book are managing directors, marketing managers, purchasing managers and other important executive. The print copy of SMIBD is also sold at leading bookshops.
For extra impact, 50,000 copies of SMIBD CD-ROM are also distributed free and majority will be distributed overseas through our strategic partners and foreign networks such as MATRADE, MIDA and others. In particular, securing the co-operation of MATRADE to distribute the CD-ROM has been a significant milestone for SMIBD as they have offices worldwide.
Contact Persons:
For further information, please call the Event Manager at 03-51247078, fax at 03-51249077 or email to enquiry@smisme.com. Alternatively, please contact the following numbers:
Mr. Michael Kang (Biotechnology Bureau Chairman of SMIAM) - 016 333 3773
Ms. Dorph Peng (Working Committee Chairman of SBC initiative) - 019 222 3281
ABOUT SMI ASSOCIATION OF MALAYSIA (SMIAM)
With a vision to transform small and medium industries, enterprises and businesses into the economic powerhouse of the country by 2020 and a mission to install and eventually ingrain deeply the concept of learning organization into small and medium industries, enterprises and businesses and encourage them to be export-oriented, SMI Association of Malaysia (SMIAM) was established on 13th July 1995 with the objectives of promoting, providing supports, services and solutions towards the best interest of small and medium industries, enterprises and businesses in Malaysia.
Since the inception, SMIAM has been organizing numerous mega and international conferences, seminars, award, exhibition and localized projects to educate, elevate and expose its members as well as small and medium industries, enterprises and businesses in Malaysia. SMIAM is also actively engaged in dialogs with the various ministries of Malaysian Government (e.g. Ministry of International Trade and Industry, Ministry of Higher Education, Ministry of Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs, Ministry of Tourism etc) to reflect and provide feedback on the needs and improvement required for stronger small and medium industries, enterprises and businesses, whom represents 99.2% of the Malaysian economic establishment.
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