KUCHING, 22 JUNE 2024 – Sarawak Digital Economy Corporation Berhad (SDEC) and Yayasan Peneraju (YP) today launched the SME Digitise! programme at Kingwood Hotel, Mukah.
The collaborative effort between SDEC and Yayasan Peneraju, is a one-year hand-holding programme to assist in the digitalisation journey of MSMEs through financial aid and comprehensive training. Aimed at equipping the participating MSMEs with important digital tools and skills to enhance their operational efficiency and competitiveness, the programme targets a maximum of 15% to 30% increase in revenue generation for MSMEs within one year of participation.
Currently, the SME Digitise! programme operates across three cohorts namely Cohort 1 (Mukah and Serian), December 2023 – November 2024; Cohort 2 (Sri Aman and Kapit), expected to commence in August 2024; and Cohort 3 (Betong and Lawas), expected to commence in February 2025.
Present to launch the event was Deputy Minister of Economy and Member of Parliament for Mukah (P213) YB Dato Hajjah Hanifah Hajar Taib who was joined by Chief Executive Officer of SDEC Ir. Ts. Sudarnoto Osman, and Executive Vice President, Strategy of Yayasan Peneraju, Cik Zatur-Rawihah Omar.
The ceremony also saw the handover of SME Digitise! Kit to 22 programme recipients to kickstart their digital transformation journey.
In her speech, YB Hanifah emphasised the contributions of MSMEs to the local and national economy, adding that such programmes reflect the concerted efforts of both the Federal and Sarawak Governments in supporting local businesses through e-commerce initiatives. She expressed her belief in the programme’s positive impact on MSMEs, making them more competitive and providing opportunities for local products to access global markets.
Meanwhile, Sudarnoto remarked that the programme implementation is vital for actualising the digitalisation efforts of the Government.
“Through this initiative, we aim to provide an end-to-end one-year digitalisation onboarding package for MSMEs, encompassing comprehensive training and hands-on guidance in utilising digital tools and skills for day-to-day business operations,” he said.
Additionally, Sudarnoto announced the ongoing construction of the Digital Innovation Hub (DIH) in Mukah which is expected to be completed by the end of quarter three this year. Participants of the SME Digitise! programme can utilise the facilities provided at the hub for one year without any charges.
Highlighting the importance of MSMEs in adopting digital technologies, Zatur-Rawihah stressed the need for collaboration with SDEC, urging the MSMEs to utilise the resources provided by Yayasan Peneraju as well as other organisations. These efforts are crucial for developing competitive Bumiputera enterprises and talents, contributing to the nation’s long-term economic growth.
Apart from the launching ceremony, SDEC also promoted its community development and education programme through the Science on Wheels (SoW) initiative. SoW will be showcased at SK Sg. Duan, Balingian, on 24 June 2024 to inspire and educate students in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics). To date, SoW has impacted over 2,500 students and resulted in the formation of five STEM clubs in Sarawak.