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YB DATO' MUKHRIZ MAHATHIR
DEPUTY MINISTER OF INTERNATIONAL TRADE
AND INDUSTRY MALAYSIA
AT THE
MEDIA LAUNCH OF SME INNOVATION SHOWCASE 2011
AND
ASEAN-CHINA SME CONFERENCE 2011
9 MARCH 2011
DEWAN PERDANA, SME CORPORATION MALAYSIA
Assalaamualaikum W.B.T. and Salam 1Malaysia.
Yang Berbahagia Datuk Ir. (Dr) Mohamed Al Amin Haji Abdul Majid,
Chairman of SME Corporation Malaysia;
Yang Berbahagia Tan Sri Ramon Ravaratnam,
Director of the Board of ASLI;
Yang Berbahagia Dato’ Hafsah Hashim,
Chief Executive Officer of SME Corporation Malaysia;
Yang Berbahagia Dato' Dr. Michael Yeoh,
Director and Chief Executive Officer of ASLI;
Distinguished Guests;
Members of the Media;
Ladies and Gentlemen.
1. I am indeed very honoured to be with all of you today in the presence of media representatives at the Media Launch of SME Innovation Showcase 2011 and ASEAN-China SME Conference. My sincerest appreciation goes to all of you for making time to be here, to provide support to our SMEs. To members of the media present today, my heartfelt thanks goes to you for your cooperation in promoting this upcoming event.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
2. It is recognised that SMEs are the backbone of our economic growth and to further strengthen the competitiveness of our SMEs, the National SME Development Council (NSDC) Meeting chaired by YAB Prime Minister, has decided in July 2009 to task SME Corp. Malaysia to organise the SME Innovation Showcase, as a platform to showcase the innovativeness of our local SMEs. This annual event is in collaboration with various Ministries and Agencies involved in SME development in Malaysia. The realisation of the SME Innovation Showcase is in line with the many goals of our New Economic Model (NEM), which give emphasis on innovation, creativity and skilled human capital development.
3. 2011 is the second year that SME Corp. Malaysia organises its SME Innovation Showcase, with the theme “Pioneering Business Transformation through Innovation”. The showcase will focus on six key areas, namely manufacturing, services, electrical and electronics, engineering and industrial design, biotechnology as well as green technology. This event will indeed provide a common platform for SMEs to share experiences and information on creating values through a culture of innovation and creativity. It is also part of our outreach initiative to promote innovative and creative ideas in developing competitive and resilient SMEs in Malaysia. This year, SME Innovation Showcase 2011 will be held from 7 to 9 June 2011 at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre; and we will see the convergence of exhibitors both from domestic and international markets.
4. SME Innovation Showcase 2011 will also provide opportunities for SMEs to network regionally and exchange ideas and information through pre-arranged Business Matching Sessions. The business matching sessions are organised throughout the 3-day exhibition, to forge strategic business partnership and networking with Large and Multi National Corporations (MNCs). Last year, a total of 329 business sessions were conducted with potential sales generated at RM93.32 million. I am happy to note that through participating in this event, SMEs can further explore new market opportunities and technologies that are made available in SME Innovation Showcase 2011.
5. In conjunction with the SME Innovation Showcase this year, SME Corp. Malaysia together with the Asian Strategy & Leadership Institute (ASLI) are co-organising the ASEAN-China SME Conference from 8 to 9 June 2011 at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre. The Conference, entitled ASEAN-China SME Conference is a new chapter to the SME Innovation Showcase this year. The ASEAN-China SME Conference is intended to bring together entrepreneurs and SMEs from the ASEAN region and China to network and establish business lingkages that will capitalise on the vast opportunities created by China-ASEAN Free Trade Agreement or CAFTA. The establishment of CAFTA is being seen as a great leap forward to expanding pluralistic trade in the region. Since its establishment in January 2010, bilateral trade volume between China and ASEAN member states has increased by 38 percent. This conference will serve as a platform for business communities from China and ASEAN countries to increase understanding, enhance friendship, and intensify cooperation.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
6. Creativity and innovation are the catalysts that will drive the growth of businesses, especially SMEs. The importance of innovation has become significant as the 10th Malaysian Plan which, among others, places strong emphasis on innovation and technology to drive the country’s economic growth. Realising the power of technology and innovation, the Government has embarked on numerous initiatives to encourage SMEs to acquire technologies, to move up the value chain and keep abreast with the latest in global trends and technological advancements. In recognising this, SME Corp. Malaysia in collaboration with SIRIM Berhad, with support from MIGHT, has introduced the 1-Innovation Certification for Enterprise Rating & Transformation programme, otherwise known as 1-InnoCERT, to identify and certify our innovative SMEs.
7. SME Innovation Award 2011 – the premier award to acknowledge and recognise the most innovative SME for 2011, will be the highlight of this year’s SME Innovation Showcase. This Award uses the 1-InnoCERT Programme as the assessment criteria and mechanism to select the winner, as was done last year. The SME Innovation Award 2011 will award the most innovative SMEs from six (6) categories:
• Best Innovation in Manufacturing Sector;
• Best Innovation in Services Including Construction Sector;
• Best Innovation in ICT and Electrical & Electronics;
• Best Innovation in Engineering and Industrial Design;
• Best Innovation in Green Technology; and
• Best Innovation in Biotechnology and Agro Technology.
8. I am pleased to inform you that the prizes and awards will be presented by Yang Amat Berhormat Prime Minister at the opening ceremony of the SME Innovation Showcase 2011 on 7 March 2011, and the Top Most Innovative SME will be winning RM1 million in cash prize!
9. Participation in the SME Innovation Showcase will be extended by SME Corp. Malaysia to companies which have been certified with 1-InnoCERT. With today’s Media Launch, I am very pleased to inform you that SME Innovation Showcase 2011 and ASEAN-China SME Conference welcome all those interested to visit and participate in both events, regarded as the premier business events for Malaysian SMEs this year!
Ladies and Gentlemen,
10. Being here with all of you, it is my wish that through the support and cooperation from members of the media present today, we would be able to continuously support and assist our homegrown SMEs to keep up with the fast moving innovation and technology changes. This would be able to help them develop their capabilities and to expand into overseas markets. I strongly believe that the SME Innovation Showcase 2011 and ASEAN-China SME Conference are an opportunity for SMEs to learn to gear themselves for global competition by forming strategic alliances with the larger companies, to gain access to markets and finance, as well as to keep up with technology and human capital development.
11. I would like to wish SME Corp. Malaysia the best in organising the SME Innovation Showcase 2011 and to congratulate both ASLI and SME Corp in their joint collaboration in organising the ASEAN-China SME Conference.
Thank you. |
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