KUCHING: The SME Solutions Expo 2010 is set to prepare businesses, especially small and medium enterprises (SMEs) for the high income economy, as envisioned in the New Economic Model (NEM).
LAUNCHING CEREMONY: (From left) Nazir, Rohani and Ng at the launch of SME Solutions Expo 2010 in Kuala Lumpur yesterday.
The expo was officiated by Datuk Hajah Rohani Abdul Karim, Deputy Minister of Domestic Trade, Co-operatives and Consumerism, in the presence of Datuk Seri Nazir Razak, group chief
executive, CIMB Group and William Ng, group publisher and editor-in-chief of Business Media International, the
publisher of SME Magazine.
“The expo addresses the three main challenges faced by SMEs in Malaysia; that of raising finance, attracting world-class human capital and acquiring technology to improve productivity. As a one-stop solution for SMEs, the expo hosts key vendors that could address these needs, while the concurrent conferences narrow the knowledge gap of SMEs on these crucial choke points,” said Ng in a statement.
“Equally important, the expo allows visitors and participants alike to meet and network with other business owners, including business leaders from Singapore, Indonesia, Thailand and Brunei. These delegates will be visiting the exhibition as part of the incoming business mission,” he added.
In addition, over 80 business delegates from India, led by the Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India (ASSOCHAM) will also be participating in the SME Solutions Expo. Themed ‘Partner with India’, the high-powered Indian delegation will showcase products such as IT and
telecommunications, healthcare, engineering, organic chemicals and nuclear reactors.
“The expo is 50 per cent larger this year, occupying the entire Mid Valley Exhibition Centre. We expect the exhibition to generate RM95 million worth of business deals compared with RM80 million concluded last year,” he said.
At the launch, Nazir said, “In the context of a rapidly evolving competitive landscape, businesses have to continuously transform not only to grow, but sometimes even just to survive. Today, CIMB is present in eight out of 10 Asean countries, and we invite SMEs and large corporations alike to leverage on our platform, and our local knowledge of each individual market, to help you regionalise, diversify and grow your businesses.”
For value-added convenience, a mini CIMB Bank branch will be set up at the expo. SME customers will be able to perform banking transactions via the automated teller machine (ATM) and cheque deposit machine (CDM).
Additionally, a number of concurrent events are being organised to inform and update SMEs on the various prevalent subjects.
These include Market Opportunities Forum 2010, Social Media for Business 2010, and Young Entrepreneurs Summit 2010.