In line with the trend towards a sharing economy and Malaysia’s digital economy roadmap, the 9th edition of the MALAYSIA SME® CONGRESS will be about going ‘Digital,’ with the theme focusing on the ‘Sharing Economy.’

Themed ‘Collectivism: The New Economy,’ the Qǔ Digital MALAYSIA SME® CONGRESS will be an interactive, content-driven Congress designed to motivate, inspire SMEs and deliver the latest information on the digital sharing economy. This event will be a community meeting point for SMEs. More than 1,000 SME participants are expected to take part in this year’s Congress.

Following the success of the previous eight Congresses, this year’s event, the 9th in the series, will be held for the first time outside Klang Valley, in the secondary city of Muar in Johor.

At a press conference held at the SME Corp Malaysia office today, Mr. Wayne Lim, Organising Chairman of the Qǔ Digital MALAYSIA SME® CONGRESS, in his welcome speech, shared with guests the objectives of having the event in Muar.

Lim said: “When we first started having this Congress nine years ago there were not many large-scale SME conferences. However in recent years more and more organizations have been holding such events. We feel that the SMEs in the market centres are very well served now, and they are spoilt for choice. Hence we took the bold move to hold the event in a secondary city outside the Klang Valley, where many SMEs have less opportunities to participate in such an event.“

Others who were present at the Press Conference were SME Corp Deputy CEO 1 Encik Rizal Nainy, Muar District Officer YBhg Tuan Hj Mohd Noorazam Bin Dato’ Hj Osman, and the Yang DiPertua, Majlis Perbandaran Muar, YBhg Tuan Hj Jamaludin Bin Hj A. Hamid.

The Deputy CEO 1 of SME Corporation Encik Rizal Nainy said the corporation was proud to be a partner for the 2017 Qǔ Digital MALAYSIA SME® Congress - together with Ministry of International Trade and Industry (MITI), Malaysia Digital Economy Corporation (MDEC), business and trade associations including, Associated Chinese Chambers of Commerce and Industry Malaysia (ACCIM), Federation of Malaysian Manufacturers (FMM), Malaysia International Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MICCI), SME Association of Malaysia and many others.

“The MALAYSIA SME® Media Group, the Congress organiser, has given a sterling contribution to the SMEs in the country through its unique 12 year old SME-focussed newspaper, which has a 50,000 audited circulation. The Group has also organised many SME-linked events, talks, and forums,’’ he said.

“This is an excellent example of public-private sector cooperation in building up the resilience and resourceful of the SME sector in Malaysia,” he added.

Muar District Officer YBhg Tuan Hj Mohd Noorazam said the congress will be held at Dewan Jubli Intan Sultan Ibrahim. This is the first time a national business conference will be held there, and the Majlis Perbandaran Muar is giving its full support towards the CONGRESS.

Mohd Noorazam said: “SMEs in smaller towns are always going to the Klang Valley to attend big events, so it is such a pleasure to be involved in an event which works the other way round – where SMEs from all over Malaysia and even overseas will be converging on the Royal Town of Johor, Muar. ”

Having such a large business conference in Muar will bring numerous benefits to the town. Firstly, it will expose SME business owners in the town to international and local expert speakers on the sharing economy. Secondly the 1,000 SME entrepreneurs converging in the town can learn, be inspired, motivated and network with the many SMEs around the town. Muar is internationally well known as the hub of the furniture industry of Malaysia.

“We are honoured that Muar is probably the first secondary city in Malaysia which is hosting such a large business conference. The timing couldn’t be better. It is significant that the conference is being held in Royal Town of Johor this year, which is a very special year, since it was 130 years ago when it was first named Bandar Maharani,” he added.

All those who spoke at the Press Conference, including the Yang DiPertua of Majlis Perbandaran Muar, YBhg Tuan Jamaludin Bin Haji A. Hamid, strongly urged Malaysian SMEs to grab the opportunity to participate in the Congress. Participation is free for SMEs.

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For further information on the Congress, SMEs may contact Ms. Nisa or Ms. Farhana at khairunnisa@malaysiasme.com.my / farhana@malaysiasme.com.my or call 03-79602133 / 012-268 2298.