SME Corp’s Noor Azmi (second left) and Huawei ‘s Yuan (second right) recently exchanged the memorandum of collaboration on the SME AI programme.
KUCHING: SME Corporation Malaysia (SME Corp Malaysia) and Huawei Malaysia Sdn Bhd (Huawei) have exchanged a Memorandum of Collaboration (MoC) on the SME Adopt and Innovate (SME AI) programme, aimed to drive SMEs further into digitalisation.
The MoC exchange was witnessed by Minister of Entrepreneur Development and Cooperatives Datuk Seri Mohd Redzuan Yusof. The exchange took place during the launch of ‘SMEs Go Global’ and ‘SME Co-Investment Partners’ programmes at SME Corp Malaysia headquarters.
The exchange of the MoC was done by SME Corp Malaysia chief executive officer (CEO) Noor Azmi Mat Said while Huawei was represented by Huawei Malaysia CEO Michael Yuan.
Through this collaboration, SME Corp Malaysia and Huawei Technologies have jointly developed the SME AI programme, which is aimed to drive SMEs further into digitalisation by leveraging on Huawei’s digital expertise for a more sustainable growth. In turn, the initiative supports SME Corp Malaysia’s agenda to facilitate faster rollout of ICT adoption in Malaysia.
“To be truly digitalised, SMEs must re-think and re-design their businesses by ensuring that their strategies, processes, and infrastructure are aligned and fully integrated to support their digital transformation,” Yuan said.
“Huawei has been actively supporting the vision of digitalisation, and with SME Corp Malaysia we intend to continue collaborating for the benefit of local entrepreneurs and SMEs.
“In our role, we will provide subject matter expertise, digital solutions and technical support for businesses to incorporate innovative digital solutions, using HUAWEI CLOUD — an open platform and AI Cloud technology.”
Meanwhile, Noor Azmi said that SME Corp Malaysia is confident that HUAWEI CLOUD and AI, coupled with 5G technology will enable SME growth in the digital sphere and towards realising Digital Malaysia.
“In this collaboration, both parties will work closely to develop impactful programmes to facilitate SME adoption and innovation in digitalisation initiatives.
“Bridging programmes as well as a ‘Training-of-Trainers’ programme will be implemented to nurture and groom subject matter experts for advisory roles in digital adoption and innovation for SMEs.”
The train of trainer will enable business advisors of SME Corp Malaysia and agencies under the Ministry of Entrepreneur Development and Cooperatives to use HUAWEI CLOUD solutions, particularly cloud and AI, to encourage digitalisation among SMEs.
Besides providing a matching grant together with Huawei solutions for SMEs to use it in their business under the adoption program, the collaboration will also engage with local digital innovation by using Huawei Cloud and AI to assist SMEs to create their innovative product. Huawei will also help to promote and bundle SME digital solutions from the program to telco.
Accompanying the Minister at the exchange session were Ministry of Entrepreneur Development and Cooperatives Secretary General Datuk Wan Suraya Wan Md Radzi and SME Corp Malaysia chairman Dato Sri Syed Hussien Al Habshee.
Also present at the ceremony were SME Corp Malaysia Chief Ecosystem Development officer Mohd Rithaudden Makip and from Huawei, VP Cloud South Pacific Region Lim Chee Siong, VP Cloud APAC Region Roben Wang, VP Digital Strategy and Consulting Tan Kuan Thye, Enterprise Business Group managing director Lidawei and VP Public Relations and Communications Rita Irina Abd Wahab.
In 2017, Huawei Technologies and SME Corp Malaysia signed a Memorandum of Understanding, and both teams have continued their efforts to pave the development journey of Malaysian SMEs. Since then some of their initiatives include building an incubation laboratory program that promotes innovation, workshops on digitalisation, Talent Program to enhance skills on digital competency amongst others.