KUCHING: Sarawak’s small and medium enterprise (SME) scene is well in its development phase, reaching a level of maturity that impresses SME Corporation Malaysia (SME Corp).
“Sarawak SMEs are at a steady growth, with many formalization of businesses having taken place,” explained Esmawady Mohd Esa, SME Corp director of Sarawak State Office to The Borneo Post.
“From small and decent stalls to technology and e-commerce driven business premises, the level of productivity and maturity of SMEs has increased remarkably.”
Esmawady opined that SMEs will continue to be the backbone of Sarawak economy.
With various assistance from 65 entrepreneurial agencies in Sarawak, SMEs will continue to support the national economy in contributing higher GDP, higher number of exports as well as providing more job opportunities for Sarawakians, he added.
Based on the latest statistics from SME Corp, business performance of SMEs – in terms of sales and profits – remained relatively stable in the third quarter of 2016.
Detailed findings revealed that about 44 per cent of the respondents experienced higher sales and one-third recorded higher profits, compared with its previous quarter.
When asked on its contribution to the local industries in Sarawak, the SME Corp director said SMEs will benefit from the efficient supply chain management of the existing timber industry.
“They provide support for the larger manufacturing companies in terms of marketing and promotional activities as well as logistics.
“In Sarawak, there are many good furniture SME manufacturers that offer symbiosis cooperation at both ends – timber companies and consumers.
“Our functions are mainly to provide assistance, finance and advisory, as well as organising capacity building to the SMEs from all industries,” he said, adding that their office is at Level 3, Menara Grand, Jalan Ban Hock.
With various programmes to aid SMEs across the board, enterprises are well covered should they require assistance in categories such as brand development, financing gateways, capacity building, technology and innovation and so on.
SME Corp also gives special focus to Bumiputera entrepreneurs and women entrepreneurs for development.